Expired Food Seized in Morocco as Ramadan Approaches, Authorities Warn

This is what recently happened in Kenitra, reports the newspaper Al Massae, which states that several types of products highly sought after during the holy month were seized by the health authorities. The daily cites for example dried fruits, dairy products, canned goods and dates that some distributors had tried to sell by changing the expiration date.

Al Massae does not specify whether any individuals were arrested or whether an investigation was opened to determine the origin of these counterfeit products, but recalls that the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) communicates each end of Ramadan on the efforts made by its agents to protect Moroccan consumers.

It should be noted that every year, several hundred tons of products unfit for consumption are seized by ONSSA agents, including red and white meat, fishery products, milling products, dairy products, juices and beverages, tomato concentrate and of course dates.

During Ramadan 2018, nearly 200,000 tons of imported food products were inspected at the various border posts and several dozen were rejected for "non-compliance with the applicable regulatory standards".