Food‑Safety Authority Seizes and Destroys Over 200 000 t of Unsafe Food During First Half of Ramadan 2026
Source: Official press release published Sunday
Key figures
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Food items seized & destroyed | 203,970 t |
| Food outlets closed | 32 (public‑facing) |
| Control operations carried out | 7,519 (≈ 95 inspections per day) |
| Establishments inspected | > 6,000 food‑sector businesses |
| Laboratory analyses | 90 samples of suspect products |
| Seizure reports (procès‑verbaux) | 197 |
| Investigations opened | 221 |
| Written warnings issued | 464 |
Most frequently seized product categories
| Rank | Category | Share of total seized & destroyed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marinated vegetable cans | 40 % |
| 2 | Dried fruits | 19.8 % |
| 3 | Fish & fishery products | 9.1 % |
| 4 | Fresh fruits & vegetables | 7.4 % |
| 5 | Dairy products | 4.5 % |
| — | Chocolate & cocoa‑based products | 3.6 % |
| — | Bakery raw materials (flour, etc.) | 3 % |
| — | Cereals & pasta | 2.1 % |
| — | Meat & meat‑derived products | 4 % |
| — | Spices & condiments | 1.5 % |
| — | Traditional pastries unsuitable for consumption | 1.1 % |
Main reasons for the seizures
- Insects & rodent traces – 35.9 %
- Mold or product degradation – 31.9 %
- Expired (past‑date) items – 15.9 %
- Unsanitary storage or sale conditions – 8 %
- Missing labeling – 2.2 %
- Improper transport conditions – 1.6 %
- Other causes (e.g., unsuitable containers, prohibited additives) – 1.5 %
Ongoing actions & public advice
The authority stresses that inspections will continue throughout the entire Ramadan period. Citizens are urged to:
- Buy only from regulated retail points (licensed supermarkets, grocery stores, and official market stalls).
- Check expiration dates and inspect the visual quality of the food before purchase.
- Avoid informal circuits and products of unknown origin.
How to report violations
If you spot any irregularity, call the free hotline: 8010 6977.
The National Food‑Safety Agency (Instance nationale de sécurité sanitaire des produits alimentaires) remains vigilant to protect public health during the holy month.
