jordan pulse -

The Kingdom has never witnessed such a lack of control over the sale and distribution of food and pharmaceutical products through local social media platforms, leaving citizens exposed without oversight.

Are regulatory authorities waiting for complaints to reach them, or is it their duty to monitor what circulates online and in public discourse? Are the staff unable to follow the countless advertisements flooding platforms like Facebook?

Recently, citizens were exposed to an enticing ad offering “premium Ajloun olive oil” at 55 JOD for a 16-liter container, including a gift jar of labneh, makdous, or olives. The seller advised buyers to “check and verify the oil themselves.” But who will verify it, and where? The Food and Drug Administration’s hotline is always busy.

Delivery vehicles operated day and night, selling hundreds, perhaps thousands, of these containers, which turned out to be reused, burnt frying oil colored and flavored artificially to resemble genuine Ajloun olive oil, normally priced at no less than 120 JOD per container.

AI applications were also used to simulate famous Jordanian doctors promoting medicines for prostate and disc problems, claiming full recovery within a month without surgery, priced at 59 JOD per package, allegedly made from natural herbs. Patients, trusting the AI-generated endorsements, purchased unlicensed drugs and abandoned the medications prescribed by their real doctors, waiting for a miraculous cure promoted by online scammers.

It is unfortunate that regulatory institutions wait for complaints in offices instead of actively monitoring markets and the internet, where these violations occur.