The Ministry of Health (MOH)'s Public Health Director Dr. Maryam Al-Hajiri said that local markets are safe and devoid from any bacillus-polluted chocolate beverages or products manufactured by MARS Company.
Dr. Al-Hajiri said that the Gulf Nutrition Quick Warning Centre immediately responded and advised the Foodstuffs Control Section in the Public Health Directorate which conducted field scanning of products manufactured by the aforesaid company with expiration.
No bacillus-polluted chocolate products were found in any of the local markets, she assured.
Earlier, British and Irish authorities took off the shelves bacillus-polluted chocolate beverages believed to be potential source of food poisoning.
As a precautionary measure, the Public Health Directorate's Food Control Section took similar random samples from various markets in the Kingdom and tested them in laboratories in order to verify their safety. Public Health Laboratory tests confirmed that the products are safe and free from bacillus or any other pollutant microbes.
Dr. Al-Hajiri said that the Directorate of Public Health always monitors consumer goods and foodstuffs in order to ensure the safety of local and imported foodstuffs.
Source: BNA