Health Inspections Multiply During Ramadan in Tunisia
The National Food Safety Authority (Instance Nationale de la Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires) announced that it has intensified inspection campaigns across the country to protect consumers and prevent risks linked to non‑compliant food products.
Scope of the Operations
- More than 7,500 control operations were carried out during the first half of Ramadan.
- The inspections covered over 6,000 shops, restaurants and food establishments in various regions.
- Laboratory analyses were performed on several suspect products to verify compliance with sanitary standards.
Results
- 200 + tonnes of unfit food items were seized and destroyed.
- 32 businesses were ordered to close for breaching hygiene and food‑safety regulations.
The seized goods included:
- Dried fruits
- Fish and other seafood
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Milk and dairy derivatives
- Pickles
- Certain pastries and their preparation ingredients
Hygiene and Storage Violations
Inspections uncovered serious infractions such as:
- Presence of insects or rodent traces
- Mold growth
- Expired products
- Storage conditions that do not meet sanitary norms
Call for Consumer Vigilance
Authorities urge citizens to:
- Prefer reputable merchants and always check expiration dates and product condition.
- Avoid foods sold through informal channels or from unknown origins.
A toll‑free hotline (80106977) is available for the public to report any violation or practice that endangers food safety.
Collective Responsibility
The agency reminds everyone that food safety is a shared duty. Both traders and consumers must respect hygiene rules to ensure a healthy, risk‑free Ramadan.
Read also: Tunis: Intensification of Night‑time Controls in Downtown Shops
Keywords: Ramadan food safety Tunisia, food inspections, sanitary controls, consumer vigilance, food hygiene, food recall, Tunisia health authority
