Supermarkets in Qatar have been ordered to withdraw all fresh Al Watania chicken after some of the poultry was found to contain salmonella.
Speaking to local newspapers, Hamad al-Malki, chief of food inspection for the Doha Municipality, said 8,000 units of the chicken, which is from Saudi Arabia, have already been withdrawn from grocery stores and hypermarkets after being declared unfit for human consumption.
When asked for comment, several grocery stores confirmed to Doha News that they were no longer carrying Al Watania chicken, including Lulu Hypermarket on D Ring and in Al Gharafa, Family Food Center on Nasser Street and Carrefour at Landmark mall. A representative there said that they were waiting further instructions from the municipality on whether to restock Saudi chicken.
Gulf Times quotes al-Malki as saying the seized chicken includes breasts and legs, but that Al Watania’s frozen chicken and eggs are safe. The report continues:
“According to al-Maliki, the matter came to light when the food inspection section received a complaint from a consumer who suspected that the chicken was unhealthy. Officials promptly collected samples from a mall and confirmed the salmonella contamination.”
Food that contains Salmonella bacteria can cause people to develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection, according to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The food poisoning can last from four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. But in some cases, patients require hospitalization.
It is not clear whether residents who have recently purchased Al Watania poultry should consume it. Doha News has asked the Baladiya for comment and we’ll update when we know more.
UPDATE | 12:53pm
The government has responded, saying:
We advise you to return it to the store.
— وزارة البلدية | Ministry Of Municipality (@albaladiya) October 13, 2013
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