LEBANON (Enmaeya Features) - October 27, 2025
Food spoilage in Lebanon is becoming a serious problem. It raises big questions about people’s health and how much they can trust the food they buy. The problem is very common, affecting everyday items like milk, cheese, and even imported foods.
Several inspections in recent months have revealed the sale of expired and spoiled food in stores. There are also fake products smuggled, like tobacco. This situation makes people ask important questions: Who is responsible for ensuring the safety of food reaching Lebanese tables? And how can citizens protect themselves from potentially harmful products in their diets?
"No Red Lines for Citizen Health"
Dr. Mohammad Abou Haidar, Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, told Enmaeya, "Since the beginning of the year, ministry teams have conducted 17,625 field inspections across a wide range of food establishments in all regions of Lebanon, including restaurants, slaughterhouses, butcher shops, and patisseries. These inspections have resulted in 470 reports being filed.”
He explained that violations generally fall into two categories:
1. Fraud for illegal profit, such as mixing frozen meat with local meat or selling non-local dairy products as “local.”
2. The use of prohibited, spoiled, or non-compliant materials, which has led to the closure of establishments and sales points that threaten consumer safety.
"The campaign is ongoing, and there are no red lines regarding the protection of citizen health. Everyone is subject to inspection," Abou Haidar emphasized, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to strict enforcement.
Full Coordination Across Ministries
Abou Haidar also confirmed that there is full coordination between the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the Ministries of Agriculture, Industry, and Health, as well as several municipalities.
"Sometimes, joint inspection rounds are conducted to improve the efficiency of monitoring across the entire food supply chain," he noted.
He concluded, "We are optimistic about the establishment of the Lebanese Food Safety Authority, which will enhance consumer protection and strengthen public confidence in the Lebanese food sector."
Food Security Challenges
Nora Ourabah Haddad, the FAO representative in Lebanon, said that the country still has serious problems with food security. About 20% of people in Lebanon, or around 1.24 million, face severe food insecurity. This number is only a small improvement compared to last year.
The main problems include ongoing economic crises, less rainfall, damage to agriculture, and difficulties with imports, funding, and infrastructure. These challenges make it harder for Lebanon to have enough safe and healthy food for everyone.
Haddad explained that rainfall in the 2024-2025 season was about 50% less than usual. This caused water shortages in major reservoirs like Lake Qaraoun, reduced the areas that can be irrigated, increased farming costs, and affected the production of crops and livestock. Despite these challenges, Lebanon maintains significant agricultural potential, particularly in the Bekaa Valley, Akkar, and the South.
Food security in Lebanon is complicated because it is affected by economic, environmental, and administrative problems. Strong food monitoring, support for local farming, and better food safety practices are very important. These steps help make sure people can eat safely and build trust in Lebanon’s food system, even during crises.
