Food Safety Campaigns Result in Seizure of 1,825 kg and 153.5 litres of Unsuitable Food Products
During the past week, the National Food Safety and Security Agency (INSSPA) conducted control campaigns in the governorates of Zaghouan, Tunis, and Kairouan, resulting in the seizure of 1,825 kg and 153.5 litres of unsuitable food products.
According to a statement released by the INSSPA on Sunday, the agency's control teams intensified their field interventions in several governorates as part of efforts to protect consumer health and ensure the circulation of safe and healthy food products. Several infractions were found regarding transportation, storage, labeling, and sanitary tracking conditions.
Zaghouan Governorate
In the Zaghouan governorate, 731 kg of "mozzarella" cheese, equivalent to 250 rolls, were seized. The cheese was being transported in a van intended for carrying goods in unsanitary and non-compliant conditions with cold chain requirements. The inspection revealed that part of the quantity was still frozen, while the other part had been thawed due to improper transportation and storage conditions, which compromised the product's safety and posed a risk to consumer health.
Tunis Governorate
A joint control campaign was conducted in La Goulette, Tunis, resulting in the issuance of 6 inspection reports and 4 warnings, as well as the closure of a restaurant due to numerous infractions of food safety and security conditions.
During the same campaign, two seizure reports were also drawn up. The first concerned the seizure of 22.5 litres of frozen lemon juice, stored in mineral water bottles without indication of preparation date or conservation conditions. The second report concerned the seizure of 35 kg of red meat, 10 kg of white meat, 8 kg of "merguez", 4 kg of "chevrettes", and 10 kg of various fish, stored in unsanitary and hazardous conditions.
Other interventions conducted in the Tunis governorate also resulted in the seizure of approximately 177 kg and 131 litres of various food products, including "lasagnes", refreshing drinks, milk, cheese, fruit juice, and yogurts, due to non-compliance with conservation and storage conditions, lack of labeling and legal mentions, absence of sanitary documents and legal invoices, presence of expired food products, and unknown origin products.
Kairouan Governorate
The sanitary control teams, in coordination with the Kairouan municipal brigade, seized approximately 850 kg of traditional pastries, including "makroudh" and "ghraiba", which were being transported in a private vehicle in non-compliant conditions with food conservation and transportation standards. During the control operation, infractions were found regarding the absence of hygiene conditions and legal marking, as well as the absence of documents guaranteeing the product's origin and distribution circuits, which necessitated their seizure and the taking of necessary legal measures against their owner.
