DOHA: The authorities have asked all outlets to stop selling watermelon imported from Iran following suspicions about a potential contamination.
Inspectors of the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning yesterday collected samples of Iranian watermelon from the market for laboratory tests after the ministry received complaints from consumers that they were injected with chemicals or dyes that allegedly caused a change in the colour. The samples have been tested at the Central Food Laboratory of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH).
A statement by the SCH, posted at the ministry website yesterday, said that initial tests showed that the watermelon was safe for consumption.
Results of further tests will be announced in three days, said the SCH.
The samples have been tested to check any possible contamination by insecticides, chemicals or microbes, said the SCH.
As a precautionary measure, the authorities have asked all retail and wholesale outlets not to release any stocks to the market and send samples to the laboratory for tests.
The SCH, meanwhile, denied reports that it has set up a special committee including different bodies to investigate the issue in response to what is being circulated on the social media.
The Peninsula
