{
  "id": 17798545,
  "title": "Lebanon's government to hold emergency meeting over food poisoning outbreak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/lebanons-government-to-hold-emergency-meeting-over-food-poisoning-17798545",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-02T12:45:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/02/lebanons-government-to-hold-emergency-meeting-over-food-poisoning-outbreak/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lebanon's government is set to hold an emergency meeting following a food poisoning outbreak that has affected at least 17 people, primarily children, in the northern Akkar region over the weekend. The affected individuals reportedly consumed contaminated pastries and meat. The Ministry of Health had previously warned of a surge in suspected trichinosis cases, a parasitic food-borne disease caused by roundworms, following several instances of illness after dining at an upscale Beirut restaurant, Nadini. Nadini was temporarily shut down following laboratory tests revealing the presence of Trichinella spiralis in a meat sample. Authorities, including Lebanon's military intelligence, conducted a raid on a Beirut warehouse belonging to the supplier, Rahamco, which provided meat to Nadini and other restaurants. The supplier was found to be operating without a license and failing to meet basic health and safety standards. It was revealed that the supplier had mixed fresh meat with thawed frozen meat, among other infractions. The overall food poisoning crisis has prompted Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to convene an emergency session on Monday to tackle the rising number of illnesses and violations in food handling practices. Trichinella spiralis spreads through consumption of raw or undercooked meat, with symptoms typically starting with digestive issues such as nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, followed by fever, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, and swelling around the eyes. Severe cases can lead to complications affecting the heart, nervous system, and respiratory system. The Ministry of Economy, responsible for consumer protection, is cracking down on suppliers violating food hygiene laws. Despite Lebanon's reputation for diverse and rich cuisine, the country has struggled with an unstable and expensive electricity supply, making it challenging to maintain food freshness for suppliers and restaurants.",
  "summary": "A flurry of food poisoning cases has struck Lebanon, with at least 17 people – mainly children – taken to hospital in the northern region of Akkar over the weekend. Local authorities said those affected had consumed tainted pastries, while some had also eaten meat. The Ministry of Health last week issued a warning over a rise in suspected cases of trichinosis, a food-borne parasitic disease…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}