An Internal Security Forces (ISF) policeman recently stopped a white Nissan car that was reeking of poultry, the ISF said in a statement on Wednesday.
The car, driven by 25-year-old Syrian national “A.K.” was found to contain a large quantity of poultry – more than 150 kg – being transported through the Ouzai area of southern Beirut on September 13th, in a manner that violates health standards.
The man was detained and interrogated at the Ouzai police station, and his vehicle was seized by the ISF.
The seized poultry was also destroyed properly under the supervision of a representative of the Public Health Ministry.
The detainee has since been transferred to the judicial unit of the southern suburbs of Beirut for further investigation, based on a judicial notice, according to the ISF.
This incident comes at a time when nationwide food poisoning cases are on an alarming rise, amidst prolonged power cuts and fuel shortages that cause meat and other foods to spoil due to the lack of refrigeration.
However, people who consume meat, estimated nowadays to comprise no more than about 15% of the Lebanese population, are not the only ones experiencing a surge in food poisoning.
A recent report documented the presence of high levels of bacterial contamination in salads containing vegetables and fruits in the country.
The report came nearly a month after a previous one showed that Akkawi cheese being sold in Beirut had alarming levels of E. coli contamination.
