Qatar Issues Health Warning Regarding These Crackers

Qatar's Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has issued an alert to urge consumers to avoid specific batches of Teff flour crackers and Schalr Knusperprot Dunkel crackers due to potential health risks.

The affected products, which are originating from Spain, could impose significant health damage if taken in large quantities due to the levels of Atropine and Scopolamine detected that are believed to be beyond the acceptable norms.

The warning is about items with specific expiration dates in 2023 and 2024.

Teff flour crackers with expiration dates of July 30th, October 17th, and October 27th, 2023, are included in the warning, while Schalr Knusperprot Dunkel crackers, with expiration dates of March 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and April 4th, 2024, are also part of the alert.

"The MOPH calls upon consumers, in case of having the mentioned products, to dispose of them or return them to the outlets where they bought from," a ministry statement on Twitter read.

The warning came after notifications from the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). 

The suspected contaminants are both alkaloids that can cause symptoms such as dry mouth, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, dizziness, hallucinations, and problems with balance.

وزارة الصحة العامة تتخذ إجراءات احترازية بشأن منتجات دقيق "حبوب التف" ومقرمشات "SCHAR KNUSPERPROT DUNKEL" منشأ اسبانيا. pic.twitter.com/BcWRrUXO1Y

— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) July 8, 2023