The office of Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam scheduled a government meeting for Monday, Nov. 2, to review food-poisoning cases and suspected food fraud amid reports of illness in Akkar and a parasite finding in Beirut.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the session would be held at 5 p.m. Beirut time (1500 UTC) at the Grand Serail. Relevant ministers, the head of the Lebanese Food Safety Authority and the prosecutor general at the Court of Cassation were expected to attend. The agenda includes reviewing steps already taken and considering further prevention and inspection measures.
Reports from Akkar concerned people in Bebnine and Tall Maayan. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that people who fell ill had eaten éclairs; four were also reported to have eaten meat. Annahar reported that the director of Dr. Abdullah Al-Rassi Governmental Hospital said 17 people needed admission for treatment and follow-up. Some had left the hospital after improving.
This Is Lebanon reported that the Ministry of Economy and Trade had counted 12 confirmed cases in an update. That figure was a ministry count, while Annahar’s figure referred to people requiring hospital admission.
In Beirut, a decision by Beirut Gov. Marwan Abboud cited Animal Health Laboratory report No. 1989/10, dated Oct. 30. The report found Trichinella spiralis in a meat sample from Nadini restaurant, and the decision temporarily closed the restaurant pending checks.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said Oct. 30 that it was investigating suspected trichinellosis cases through epidemiological inquiries and laboratory tests. The ministry says infection can occur when someone eats meat contaminated with the parasite before it is thoroughly cooked, particularly pork and pork products. It says the infection does not pass directly between people and gives an incubation period of two to eight weeks.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture describes the parasite as a roundworm and identifies pork, especially wild boar, and some other wild animals as sources. It says beef, sheep and goat meat are not usual sources and warns that contaminated meat, utensils or surfaces can spread contamination. MoPH urged consumers to buy meat from regulated sources.
