The seizure of adulterated coffee in Egyptian governorates, along with warnings of the phenomenon's spread within unregulated trade, has sparked controversy among consumers.

Inspection campaigns revealed the use of ingredients such as date pits and pea grains (called 'bisla' by Egyptians) to mix with coffee, in practices aimed at reducing costs and achieving illicit profits.

In recent days, the Health Directorate of Qalyubia Governorate thwarted the circulation of nearly a ton of adulterated coffee before it reached the markets, during an inspection campaign targeting a food storage facility as part of efforts to regulate markets and protect public health.

Inspections showed that coffee beans were mixed with other beans in violation of standard specifications, using a well-known trademark to mislead consumers and achieve illegal gains, in violation of commercial fraud and food safety laws.

In Fayoum Governorate, regulatory authorities seized an unlicensed factory for producing and packaging adulterated coffee using 'date pits and peas,' marketed in containers bearing names of well-known brands, in addition to 250 kilograms of ground coffee of unknown origin. A report was filed and the case referred to the Public Prosecution.

Informal TradeCommenting on the phenomenon, Mustafa al-Sheikh, head of the Alexandria Coffee Millers and Traders Division, explained that about 80 percent of coffee traded through informal and unlicensed channels is adulterated and unfit for use, stressing that this percentage does not apply to the organized market or licensed traders.

Al-Sheikh told Sky News Arabia that some workers in unlicensed trade use large quantities of date pits and other grains, such as 'peas and wheat,' to mix with coffee in order to reduce costs and achieve greater profits, confirming that these practices harm consumers and damage the reputation of the market and compliant traders. He added that 'consumption of these additives, after roasting and mixing with coffee, may have harmful health effects.'

Previously, Hassan Fawzi, head of the Coffee Division at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, stated that fraud cases are limited to a small proportion of workers in unlicensed places, known as 'basement shops,' urging consumers to buy coffee from trusted outlets and verify product data on the packaging.

Fawzi pointed out that coffee shops are subject to periodic inspection by competent authorities, foremost among them the supply and health authorities, where samples are regularly taken to ensure compliance with Egyptian standard specifications, with legal action taken, which may include imprisonment and fines if any violation is proven.

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What are the health risks?For his part, Hani Gebran, a therapeutic nutrition consultant, told Sky News Arabia that buying coffee from reliable sources remains the safest way to avoid exposure to adulterated products.

He pointed out that some illegal producers use additives that may increase symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in some individuals, such as bloating and digestive system disorders, and may in some cases lead to constipation, noting that some consumers may also suffer from allergies to these ingredients.

Gebran stressed that consuming adulterated coffee does not necessarily lead to serious health complications, but it may exacerbate digestive system problems in more sensitive individuals, emphasizing that prevention begins with buying coffee from well-known and trusted sales outlets, while avoiding products of unknown origin or unjustifiably low prices.

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