Nearly 80,000 expired food products ready to be sold seized from Hamala Warehouse

More than 80,000 expired food commodities, which were ready to be redisplayed in the local market after forging its expiration dates, were found in a warehouse that was raided in Hamala last month, an official in Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry confirmed yesterday.  

This came as Control and Resources Assistant Undersecretary in the Ministry Abdulaziz Al Ashraf announced in a press statement yesterday the results of an inventory conducted at the warehouse, explaining that the estimated size of the store is 750 metres and adding that more than 80,000 expired commodities of around 80 different brands were seized.

“The store is packed with goods and food products that are all expired, including, but not limited to, different grains such as rice, lentils, chickpeas and ground spices, such as black pepper, turmeric, pickles, tomato paste, grape leaves, corn, coconut powder and many other products,” Mr. Al Ashraf mentioned in the statement.

Explaining further, Mr. Al Ashraf revealed: “The warehouse contains tools that are used to print the expiration dates on the products, as well as various branded stickers with new dates that falsely extend the validity of the products. Some of the expired products were of varying dates, some of which have expired since 2008.”

The Assistant Undersecretary also stated that the expiration dates on some of the products were already changed and the products were ready to be redistributed in the market. He added that the warehouse lacked the most basic health requirements for food stores, and “it was a rat nest”.

Shop Closed

Mr Al Ashraf revealed that the ministry has closed a shop where the expired commodities were sold, confirming that the shop belonged to one of the suspects involved in the case.

The official clarified more details in the statement saying: “Inspection results showed that many of the products sold in the shop are of the same brands that have been confiscated from the warehouse. Additionally, many of the displayed products do not have any validity date, some of which are clearly outdated, and there are no receipts regarding these products and their source.”

“The store has been closed within the precautionary measures that the ministry is taking to protect people from being cheated and from the impacts it has on their health. Work is underway to verify other stores related to the owners of the commercial activity in connection with the violating store,” Mr. Al Ashraf added while at the same time he thanked the cooperating authorities, such as Interior and Health Ministries.

Tribune reported last month that two Asian individuals have been remanded  for being suspected of running a warehouse in Hamala, where they apparently faked dates of expired food products in order to resell it.    

According to a statement issued by the Public Prosecution back then, the suspects are facing the charges of possessing expired foodstuff with the intent to sell it; a crime that is punishable of up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to BD5,000. “The Public Prosecution notes in this regard that it will take all legal measures to deter all forms of fraud and manipulation that may harm public health and safety,” the statement mentioned.