Health Ministry Shuts Daycare in Ajaltoun, Seizes Spoiled Cheese in Sidon

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour ordered on Tuesday the closure of a daycare in the region of Ajaltoun that witnessed the death of an infant.

The minister ordered that Clarina et Zoe daycare be closed following the death of four-month-old Elio Salloum.

The child was announced dead on arrival at Saint George hospital in Ajaltoun.

The cause and date of death is unknown.

Elsewhere, Health Ministry inspectors seized a quantity of cheese in the southern city of Sidon for failing to meet health standards, reported al-Jadeed television.

It said that the inspectors raided Khaled al-Asaadi warehouse in the city where they confiscated the Akkawi cheese.

They also confiscated cheese used to manufacture Knefeh at al-Baba Sweets pastry shop.

Abou Dahr butchery in Sidon was also raided where inspectors discovered beef that did not meet required standards.

In the eastern Bekaa region, a Health Ministry team shut a pastry factory for failing to meet necessary conditions.

The factory, owned by Syrian Ahmed Khalil, is located in al-Fakiha in Baalbek, added al-Jadeed.

Abou Faour had launched in October a nationwide food safety campaign that has sought to improve health standards in the country.

The campaign has led to the closure of a number of restaurants, warehouses, and slaughterhouses.

Several establishments have since improved their standards.

Abou Faour's campaign has widened to include hospitals and other facilities under his ministry's jurisdiction.

M.T.

Y.R.