Algeria seizes 500 tons of outdated milk powder

Algerian customs Tuesday foiled an attempt to infiltrate 500 tons of rotten milk powder at the Algiers Port which was intended to reach subsidized pasteurized plastic milk dairies, Echorouk has learnt.

Security forces, the agriculture and industry ministries immediately opened an investigation as the milk powder was transported from Uruguay upon request from the Milk National Professional Office. The latter is criticized for not keeping watch on milk powder circulation.

According to sources at the Port, the seized milk powder was discovered following a large-scale inspection of containers. Customs found out that similar quantities would have been distributed to dairies.

The Association for Protecting Consumers called for an investigation on all the transactions conducted by the Milk National Professional Office.

“I am informed about the seized milk powder issue. I am afraid that similar quantities were infiltrated from the Port in the last months and years,” the Association’s representative Mustapha Zbidi told Echorouk.

“Some companies market outdated milk powder. Because of that, there is a need for laboratory analyses,” he added.