The head of the bakery workers' union, Shahada Al-Masri, announced in a statement, "The official results of the analyses related to the flour samples from Wooden Bakery have been released. The bakery was closed, and its owner, board members, and some staff were suspended and publicly shamed on social media and various news outlets, on the grounds that Wooden Bakery was providing the Lebanese with spoiled bread due to spoiled flour. However, the laboratories of the Industrial Research Institute proved that all the samples are suitable for use and comply with the flour specifications used by all bakeries in Lebanon." He stated, "The union demands accountability from all those who participated in this crime that rocked society and the bakery sector, painting a negative image that does not reflect Wooden Bakery or the bakery sector. It also subjected the company to moral and financial losses that nearly led to its bankruptcy, despite the fact that the company has branches across Lebanon, employs hundreds of Lebanese staff, and operates in the Arab world and holds an ISO certification." He emphasized "the necessity of removing all videos, statements, and accusations directed at the company, as everyone rushed to trial and punishment, seeking fame at the expense of the interests of the people, the company, and the bakeries."
The public prosecutor in Baalbek, Judge Munif Barakat, had ordered the closure of a large factory belonging to "Wooden Bakery" after huge amounts of expired flour were seized. But is this recent incident the beginning of the story, or part of a long series of violations and scandals?
The events date back to 2024, when a warehouse belonging to one of the bakeries (Shamsin) in Zahle contained a large quantity of counterfeit bread bundles. Prior to that, in 2022, news spread about the export of subsidized flour instead of selling it as bread in the aforementioned bakery, which was not the only incident.
Why is wheat imported instead of flour? In Lebanon, wheat is imported instead of flour to avoid issues related to flour spoilage during maritime transport, as flour is exposed to moisture and insects. Over 70% of wheat is imported from Ukraine and Russia, and the shipment takes at least seventeen days to arrive. It is known that flour transported by sea is exposed to moisture which encourages insect infestations, hence it is preferred to import wheat rather than flour.
Turning the case over to the information branch In a special interview with the "Al-Diyar" newspaper, the public prosecutor in Baalbek, Judge Munif Barakat, revealed new developments in the spoiled flour scandal in Lebanon. He confirmed that the case has been transferred to the information branch as of last Friday, following its transfer from state security. He noted that investigations are ongoing, awaiting results from the samples taken from the bakery. He confirmed that the amount of flour seized is "120.5 tons, of which 110 tons are expired and 10.5 tons are labeled as suitable for use." He added that samples have been sent for examination to verify their validity.
Regarding the legal status of those involved, the judge explained that they were detained for five days, then released on Saturday while being subject to investigation, with a travel ban in place and their passports confiscated. He noted that the offense under the Consumer Protection Law is punishable by imprisonment for three months to a year, and they have thus been referred to the appellate court.
Political interventions and warnings Regarding political interventions, Judge Barakat confirmed that they are not influenced by them, stressing the importance of law and conscience in their work. He warned of political interference in the case, stating, "We are in Lebanon and we cannot fool ourselves; I neither deny nor confirm information related to political interventions!"
In every corruption case, it seems there is a dubious role played by political entities and security institutions. This time, there is focus on military involvement in the case of delivering spoiled flour, as dark and intelligence-related secrets emerge behind the scenes.
"Al-Diyar" learned from private sources that there were political interventions behind the release of the detainees; however, matters did not stay the same, as the relevant authorities requested their re-delivery for further investigation, which indeed took place. When "Al-Diyar" attempted to contact the families of the detainees and the lawyer, the responses were surprising and noteworthy. While the families refused to speak, the lawyer for the company, Kani Khoury, ignored our attempts to reach her. This sudden silence and outright refusal raises many questions about potential significant violations.
These attempts to communicate with the families of the detainees aimed to understand the situation from their perspective and gather any additional information that could help clarify the case better. However, the families rebuffed us, highlighting the sensitivity of the matter and possibly its significant impact on the local community.
