Baghdad health directorate destroys 27 tons of expired meat

BAGHDAD — Baghdad’s Karkh Health Directorate announced Wednesday the destruction of 27 tons of expired meat in the Yusufiya area, and confirmed legal procedures have been initiated against those responsible.

In a statement, the directorate said its Central Health Control Division carried out a joint inspection campaign in cooperation with the Directorate of Organized Crime Control. The operation led to the seizure and destruction of the expired products.

“This campaign is part of ongoing efforts to monitor storage and distribution of food products, and to prevent the marketing of items unfit for human consumption, in order to protect public health and safety,” the statement said.

Authorities confirmed that “all legal measures were taken against the violators in accordance with approved health regulations,” and emphasized that inspection campaigns will continue in coordination with relevant security agencies.

Earlier this month, Baghdad’s Karkh health authority said its inspectors shut down a dairy plant that was reprocessing rotten cheese of unknown origin, supervising the destruction of about 10 tons and referring the case for legal action.

In March, the Ministry of Trade said it destroyed expired imported meat sold in western Baghdad markets and blocked a bran smuggling attempt in Baghdad and Salah al-Din governorates. It said joint teams working with security forces and the Ministries of Agriculture and Health confiscated spoiled meat in the Karkh area and destroyed it on-site, while another team intercepted a vehicle carrying large quantities of bran and impounded the shipment, taking legal action against those accused of manipulating the food supply.