Bad meat fear keeps Saudis off eateries

JEDDAH: Some Saudis have developed fear of meat following stories of dubious-quality meat being smuggled into cities after Haj.
Despite attempts by the authorities to deter smugglers of sacrificial meat from selling illegally, some reportedly escaped detention. The problem is that many Saudis will eat such meat in restaurants, while some might attempt to sell it at cheaper prices.
It is reassuring, however, that most often authorities can control the quality of meat in restaurants and slaughterhouses.
Recently, civic officials foiled an attempt to smuggle and sell expired meat at one of the main entrances to Makkah. One of the officers, Hassan Balubaid, said his department confiscated about 150 kg of rotten meat.
The municipality of neighboring provinces caught 53 vehicles carrying 526 heads of livestock coming from the holy sites.
The news related to the safety and quality of food remains alarming.
Misfer Al-Harthy, 39, said he fears going to restaurants, especially those that rely heavily on the sale of cooked meat and rice, and has great difficulty convincing his two boys not to eat fast food because he does not trust the quality of food there.
Salem Al-Dossary, who usually eats only grilled food at restaurants, thinks the quality of the meat is not important because once exposed to the fire and cooked well, it ceases being harmful.