Watch: Saudi Arabia seizes 8 tonnes of expired food repackaged for sale, including sweets

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce announced the seizure of two warehouses in Riyadh containing over eight tonnes of expired and spoiled food products, including sweets intended for children.

The warehouses, owned by an investor of Arab nationality, were discovered to house large quantities of expired food items stored in unsanitary conditions infested with rodents and insects.

Among the seized goods were children’s candies, dairy products, legumes, and mixed nuts, many of which had expired long ago but were being repackaged with falsified expiration dates for redistribution in local markets.

According to the Ministry, one of the facilities was used specifically to alter production and expiration dates using manual stamping tools, laser devices, and specialised packaging surfaces.

The second warehouse served as a storage and distribution hub for the counterfeit goods.

The Ministry emphasized that regulatory efforts to cleanse the market of such violations will continue without pause. “This is not just a legal infraction, it is a betrayal of public trust,” the Ministry statement added. “The safety of our children and the integrity of our food supply are non-negotiable.”

The Ministry urged the public to report any suspected violations through official channels, reiterating that consumer vigilance plays a critical role in protecting the nation's health and well-being.