Smoked Chicken Controversy: Algerian Organization for Consumer Protection Launches Investigative Initiative Following Cancer Risk Allegations

Published on: 2025-07-20 23:15

By: Dr. Hana Saada

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

In response to growing public concern over the safety of smoked meat products, the Algerian Organization for Consumer Protection initiates on-site factory visits and independent lab testing, beginning with Bellat Group.

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Algiers, Algeria– Sunday, July 20, 2025 | In the wake of mounting public anxiety and heated debate surrounding the health risks allegedly associated with smoked meat products, particularly their possible link to carcinogenic substances, the Algerian Organization for Consumer Protection has stepped forward with a decisive field-based investigation, seeking to clarify the facts for consumers and reinforce public trust in food safety.

The initiative, launched in response to a flood of inquiries from concerned citizens, began with a high-profile visit to Bellat Group’s meat processing facility, located in Blida. The delegation, headed by the president of the Blida branch of the Algerian Organization for Consumer Protection, was received by Bellat’s General Manager and executive team, who provided full cooperation and transparency throughout the visit.

During the inspection, the factory presented the complete technical dossier for its smoked chicken product, including detailed documentation on all ingredients, particularly the outer coating that has recently come under scrutiny. The technical data covered ingredient origins, chemical compositions, and concentrations, as well as the relevant sanitary authorizations issued by multiple official bodies.

According to the documents obtained and reviewed by the delegation, all substances used in the product were fully compliant with both Algerian law and the international Codex Alimentarius standards. The quantities employed fell within legally permitted limits, and none of the additives listed appeared on any international blacklist for carcinogenic risk.

Nonetheless, in its commitment to full transparency and rigorous consumer advocacy, the organization announced that it will conduct independent laboratory tests on samples acquired directly from local markets. The purpose is to verify whether the actual product on the shelves aligns with the factory’s technical specifications.

Importantly, the Algerian Organization for Consumer Protection clarified that it does not seek to replace regulatory or oversight institutions, but rather to bridge the gap between technical data and public understanding, offering reassurance to Algerian consumers. In a public statement, the organization expressed appreciation for Bellat Group’s cooperative stance and invited other meat processing companies to open their doors to similar evaluations.

The organization also used this occasion to underscore a broader issue: the evolution of Algerian dietary habits, which have increasingly mirrored global consumption patterns over the past decade. With this shift comes a new urgency to scrutinize food additives, preservatives, and processing agents, many of which are now standard in the global food industry.

“In light of these developments,” the statement read, “there is an urgent need for continuous legislative updates from public authorities regarding food safety standards—similar to the regular monitoring already being applied to agricultural chemicals.”

The Algerian Organization for Consumer Protection further called upon practicing nutritionists, academic researchers, and public health experts to play a proactive role in guiding official institutions, especially the Ministry of Health, by relaying the latest peer-reviewed scientific findings on food safety risks—particularly those related to widely consumed processed foods.

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