Citizens want more raids on restaurants

Many Jeddah residents have urged the municipality to intensify its raids on restaurants because they claim that owners are still failing to abide by proper health and safety regulations.
Hassan Al-Hias said that many popular eateries, including five-star establishments, have a poor level of hygiene in terms of food preparation and cleanliness of staff.
He said inspectors must pay particular attention to the use of cooking oil because repeated use can cause cancer. He said there must be inspections done on a weekly basis, including checking on the status of foreign workers.
“I went once to a famous Tahlia restaurant to entertain guests from Italy. When the food was served, I was surprised to see a fly and cockroach in the salad bowl, causing me great embarrassment. When I confronted the owner of the restaurant, he tried to cover up the incident and sought to placate me.” The restaurant was closed shortly afterward, he said.
Adnan Awadh said the municipality’s inspections are not adequate because there continues to be a low level of health standards at restaurants in the city, particularly in kitchens and buffets. He said the municipality should name and shame violators, and close their businesses.
Awadh said the most vulnerable category is young people because they are constantly on the move and eating out. “We have heard of many cases of food poisoning at small eateries.”
Khalid Abu Atti said there must be more inspections done as the hot summer weather approaches because food spoils easily in high temperatures. He said that he has seen a lack of hygiene in the way food is prepared and the utensils used at restaurants. There is a danger that people can die from food poisoning, he said.
Hassan Asiri accused the municipality of failing to get tough with restaurant owners about standards, including not slapping them with fines that would act as a deterrent. He claimed that there are many restaurants in government facilities operating without licenses, and are not being monitored for health standards.
Meanwhile, the Jeddah municipality said it stepped up its raids on restaurants and coffee shops in the southern part of the city last week, which resulted in shops being closed and owners fined.
The process of closing Marhaba restaurant has begun in Thuwel on the Jeddah-Madinah road, after several irregularities were uncovered, including the store’s poor hygiene, the presence of insects and rats, inadequate food preparation, an expired license and the lack of a contract to collect and transport waste.
Abed’s Youghmosh and Manto restaurants have also been closed in Al-Salamah district for various violations, including the lack of safety of the building and equipment, the presence of insects, rodents and cockroaches, poor food storage and packaging, and the low level of hygiene.
The municipality has also closed Ibn Al-Bladi restaurant in Al-Nuzla Al-Yamania district, after discovering a range of offenses, including operating without a license, and poor hygiene in food preparation, cooking and processing. In addition, the place had cracked walls, uncovered electrical connections, display of food in unauthorized places, poor transportation, and inadequate refrigerators.
The municipality also inspected Voila coffee shop in Al-Shati district, inside Al-Mashfa hospital, and closed it after discovering various irregularities including operating without a license, and the presence of expired food from unknown sources.