Food firm owner charged over ‘fake’ expiry dates

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A warehouse filled with expired baking goods, repackaged with altered use-by dates, has led to court charges against a company boss. Prosecutors allege the expiry dates were stripped off and replaced with new ones before the products were put back into circulation.

The case has been scheduled for hearing on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, before the Minor Criminal Court.

The matter came to light when Khamis Police Station (A) received information via the Ministry of Industry and Commerce about a warehouse storing expired stock.

Premises

Inspectors from the ministry visited the premises and found food products either long expired or tampered with.

The warehouse was ordered shut immediately.

A team from the Public Prosecution inspected the site and took statements from twenty-three people, including suspects, workers, and witnesses. The warehouse was sealed, and ministry staff were instructed to inventory its contents, identify expired goods, and locate any similar items on sale elsewhere.

Baking ingredients

Among the confiscated stock were baking ingredients and packaged items bearing forged expiry dates.

Investigators later found more products in a shop supplied by the same company, also carrying changed labels.

A forensic expert confirmed that the original dates had been removed and replaced with new ones, either by printing directly onto the packaging or applying replacement stickers.

Police enquiries supported these findings.

Trial

The prosecution, having gathered sufficient evidence, ordered the defendant’s referral to trial.

The company owner stands accused of putting public health at risk through fraudulent practices.

The head of the relevant prosecution division said legal measures would continue to be taken against anyone found tampering with food supplies, stressing that public safety remains a top concern.