Consumer society urges stricter monitoring of food outlets

AMMAN — Consumer Protection Society (CPS) President Mohammad Obeidat on Tuesday urged authorities to increase their monitoring of food products sold in the local market. 

In a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times, Obeidat said food safety concerns should be a government priority, particularly since the authorities continue to seize large quantities of spoiled food in the domestic market and close down a number of restaurants and food stores. 

National food safety is an important issue due to its impact on public health and on the Kingdom’s economy, he added, calling for carrying out intense and unannounced inspection campaigns on the warehouses of large companies and restaurants. 

“Food safety in Jordan is jeopardised because of the rising number of dishonest people who care only about making more profits at the expense of the pockets and health of consumers,” Obeidat said in the statement.

Health authorities across the Kingdom have seized tonnes of spoiled food over the past few months, while the Jordan Food and Drug Administration has closed hundreds of restaurants for violating food safety regulations between July and August.

The recent death of a mother and her three-year-old child at a five-star hotel at the Dead Sea by food poisoning has drawn more public attention to food safety.