Tunisia Seizes Over 7.6 Tonnes of Unsafe Food in Nationwide Health Operation

Tunisia’s National Authority for Food Safety (INSSPA) has confiscated more than 7.6 tonnes of spoiled or unsafe food products, along with 2,452 litres of mineral water stored in unhygienic conditions and over 4,000 food boxes of varying contents, following nationwide inspection campaigns.
Conducted in coordination with security and municipal authorities, these operations targeted multiple governorates, including Tunis, Kairouan, Gafsa, and Sidi Bouzid. In Tunis alone, 5.26 tonnes of food were seized, including swollen tomato paste cans, contaminated olives, and poultry emitting strong odours. Legal proceedings have been initiated, with cases referred to the public prosecutor.
In a statement released on Sunday, October 26, INSSPA explained that these inspections form part of a preventive action plan to strengthen health surveillance and protect public safety. Authorities in Kairouan and Gafsa uncovered unregulated poultry and clandestine slaughterhouses, while in Sidi Bouzid, inspectors seized improperly stored potatoes transported at unsafe temperatures. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strict food hygiene standards and warned that violations endangering consumer health will be met with severe legal sanctions.