Mosul warns bakeries not to shrink samoon bundles after paper-bag switch

NINEVEH — Mosul district authorities warned bakeries on Tuesday not to cut the number or weight of bread and samoon pieces sell per 1000 dinars, saying the mandatory switch from plastic to paper bags does not justify changing the officially approved quantities.

Some Mosul bakeries had cut the number of samoon sold for 1,000 dinars (about 60 cents) from 10 to eight while keeping the price the same, a local source told 964media, effectively raising the price per piece by 25%. The cuts came as the dollar rose and bakeries were required to replace plastic bags with paper. The paper-bag rule was meant to prevent health risks from plastic and did not allow bakeries to sell less bread, the district administration said, adding that inspection committees would monitor compliance and take legal action against violators.

Samoon, a crusty, diamond-shaped oven-baked bread with a soft inside, is eaten across Iraq at breakfast and in sandwiches.

Since Oct. 7, the Central Bank buys dollars from the Finance Ministry at 1,500 dinars, sells to banks at 1,510 and sets the public rate at 1,520, up from 1,300, 1,310 and 1,320. The dollar is trading at more than 168,000 dinars per $100 on the parallel market.