Kuwait cracks down on illegal food production; children’s products found in unsafe conditions
As part of ongoing security efforts by the Ministry of Interior to protect public health and combat violations that threaten community safety, the Criminal Security Sector has uncovered illegal activity involving the operation of a factory and warehouse for manufacturing food products inside a residential home in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, without meeting the required legal and regulatory conditions.
Following the completion of legal procedures, the site was raided and 12 suspects – Arabs and Asians were arrested.
Investigations revealed that the suspects were producing and preparing food products intended for children, using manufacturing tools and packaging materials, with the aim of supplying them to cooperative societies, according to reports.
Inspections showed that the location was unsanitary and lacked even the most basic health requirements, and did not have any industrial or commercial license, posing a direct threat to public health and consumer safety.
During questioning, the suspects admitted to producing and manufacturing the food products inside the residence in violation of the law.
Further investigations revealed that they had been storing the products and distributing them to cooperative societies in several areas, while misleading authorities by claiming that production was taking place at other locations.
It was confirmed that the actual manufacturing was being carried out inside the illegal residential property in unhealthy conditions and in clear violation of regulations.
In this regard, personnel from the security sectors and state authorities, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, Kuwait Municipality, the Public Authority for Manpower, the Public Authority for Industry, and the Kuwait Fire Force, busted the place and took necessary action.
Given the seriousness of the violation and the fact that these food products are circulated at social events and target children, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor is currently withdrawing all related products from cooperative societies and compiling an inventory.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that the suspects have been detained and that legal action has been taken against them, stressing that there will be zero tolerance for any practices that endanger public health or consumer safety, and affirming the continuation of security and inspection campaigns in cooperation with relevant authorities to apprehend violators and hold them accountable under the law.
