The Ministry of Economy and Trade confirmed on Tuesday that the 20 tonnes of expired infant milk formula that has been disposed of are not subsidized by the Central Bank, as circulated on social media.

The ministry stated that these products were withdrawn from the market in 2018 and 2019, three months before its expiry date, in compliance with the regulations. The company has obtained the approval of the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Ministry of Finance, in order to dispose it according to food safety standards .

Photos of large quantities of infant milk being disposed of have gone viral on social media platforms, as Lebanon is facing a severe shortage of basic commodities and foodstuffs.

The quantities of milk, estimated at 20 tonnes, were intended for use by children aged below 1 and between 1 and 3, sources said, noting that the products were hidden in a warehouse and were disposed of after they expired.

Social media activists voiced their resentment at this sighting which is a sign of the traders’ greed and their continuous attempts to store milk, thus depriving children from it.