MADINAH, 21 July 2007 — Twenty-three diners including children were admitted to hospital following food poisoning at a busy restaurant in Madinah yesterday, according to an official of the Department of Health Affairs in Madinah.
Adel Sharaf, supervisor general at the Office of the Health Affairs in Madinah, told Arab News that the people who suffered food poisoning at Jannah Al-Fawakih restaurant in Madinah yesterday were out of danger.
“Twenty-three people including four non-Saudis who suffered food poisoning were discharged after investigations and first-aid treatment. The remaining two cases are still under treatment but out of danger,” the official said.
The official said the restaurant would remain closed for five days for investigations. The preliminary investigations have proved that several food items in the restaurant have been contaminated, he said.
The restaurant, which has been popular in the city, following the unpleasant developments yesterday displayed a notice that said: “The restaurant is closed for repairs.”
In another development, the officials of the Makkah municipality impounded large quantities of contaminated fish, meat and other food products from two illegal warehouses in the Misfala District where food items were stored in an unhygienic manner. Most of the workers at the warehouses were Bangladesh and Pakistan nationals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The municipal inspectors who conducted the inspection and raids said they destroyed a total of 4,000 kilograms of spoiled meat and fish and 16 freezers and other equipments were seized. The officials urged the public not to rent out their buildings for illegal and unhygienic storage of food items. The officials also wanted the public to report to the authorities if they learn about practices that pose serious threat to the public health.
