“The program, dubbed 'Food Safety in Summer', will not only check if these outlets are serving hygienic food but also educate people about the measures to be adopted during the season while preparing or consuming food,” Soliman Al-Buthi, general manager of Environmental Health Department of the Riyadh Municipality, told Arab News on Friday.

People eat out or take out food from restaurants more frequently during the summer months as family members who prepare food at home usually travel abroad. Domestic tourism peaks in the summer, which means traveling families.  “This is also a time of year when food goes bad faster because of the high temperatures experienced during the season,” said Al-Buthi, pointing out that higher temperatures mean faster-growing bacteria.

He said the program would run through Ramadan with inspectors working double shifts and taking random samples for lab inspection.

“It's a two-pronged campaign targeting both the consumers and workers who are engaged in production of food,” said Al-Buthi, adding that officers will also distribute pamphlets on food safety.

Speaking about the publications that are to be distributed among the people,– he said they are aimed at preventing the sale and consumption of contaminated foods.

He pointed out that they would contain fundamental rules to be followed by consumers as well as food preparers.

Under municipal bylaws, employers of food outlets are expected to ensure that their employees possess health certificates issued by the municipality.