Former MP criticizes the restaurant classification and MoPH replies

The former Lebanese MP and head of the Lebanese Health and Social Committee, Ismail Sukkarieh, criticized the “gold-silver plated” certification by the Ministry of Public Health announced last Tuesday after s quality assessment of Beirut restaurants (see http://bit.ly/1Occu3x). In his statement Sukkarieh noted the assessment process should have focused on flour and its by-products, like bread and pastries which he described as the basic ingredients of popular meals for over a one million low-income people. Sukkarieh pointed out that the majority of cases of poisoning in Lebanon were associated with fast food bakeries and diners. In reply to Sukkarieh’s criticism, the Public Health Ministry issued a statement yesterday dismissing former deputy’s rhetoric in defense of the poor classes, and confirming that the Ministry is carrying out regular tests on chemical and bacterial components of flour to ensure its safety. The statement went on to say that the Ministry is also “regularly inspecting large popular wheat mills and has been keeping an eye on bakeries from the start of the food safety campaign through constant checks while providing the staff with the necessary guidelines, and taking action against violators.”. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the MoPH classification raises indeed a number of serious questions which we will outline in Arabic though the following link: http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/14351

(Al-Diyar, As Safir, Al Akhbar, December 17 & 18, 2015)