Shut! 12,000 eateries taken to task over rules violation

Jeddah Municipality has closed down 12,000 eateries for various health violations, including poor storage of food, use of expired items and operating without licenses, over the past four months. Inspections conducted revealed that 16,000 eateries had violated health regulations.
There were 2,745 shops closed in 14 sub-municipalities, said Mohammed Obaid Al-Buqami, spokesman for the municipality. Offenses include the use of raw material showing a change in color, smell, taste, texture or the swelling of their packaging. Several eateries also failed to store the food at minus 4 degrees in refrigerators and minus 18 in freezers.
They used food of unknown source and with no expiry dates. There was also food prepared, processed and defrosted inside restaurant toilets, and workers employed with expired or no health certificates.
Al-Buqami said the municipality is committed to protecting the health of citizens and foreigners, as ordered by Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras. He said several restaurants had been shuttered a second time and fined for failing to abide by health regulations. He said inspections would continue.