RIYADH: The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs issued a circular to all municipalities to increase inspections of food establishments before the start of the month of Ramadan.
The ministry urged health departments to prepare complete programs that would focus on unauthorized street-food peddling and ensure that all food establishments follow health procedures.
The circular outlines proper ways to clean water storage containers and to make sure that water is safe for human consumption.
Focus will also be on food transportation and officials have been asked to make sure all trucks transporting foodstuff fit the standards set out by the municipalities. In the event of violations by personnel or companies the punishment set out is severe. Repeat offenders face double punishments. Food poisoning is a problem that is all too common during Haj and Umrah each year. Expired food often finds its way to customers through restaurants, which fail to meet health and safety regulations.
Opinions differ about what actually precipitates the problem. Some customers blame people who consider Ramadan a month for food and shopping for the undesirable situation.
Others say shopkeepers are tempted to do such things because of a lack of supervision and therefore urge the municipality and the responsible authorities to increase health and safety checks to punish those who break the law.
They say local officials must not only set rules and regulations for food outlets, but must also ensure that the regulations are implemented for the safety of everyone.
