JEDDDAH: Jeddah Municipality’s airport branch has closed 13 stores that have failed to meet hygiene standards set by the municipality to provide health and food security to the residents and tourists in the city.

Continuous inspections have been undertaken by the municipality in order to avoid food suppliers violating their commitment to provide secure and hygienic food at shops. The inspections are targeting food stores, restaurants, markets and food storage facilities.

Sami Khalaf, general manager for cleanliness and hygiene, stated that they closed the 13 stores due to breaches of municipality rules and regulations by not having a proper disposal area for the waste. Instead, the waste was thrown next to the shop or in non-allocated areas. Other reasons included unhygienic shops and dirt-ridden stores.

Khalaf insisted that it is the responsibility of the shopkeepers to take care of their shops and the surrounding areas, to ensure they are clean and no waste is disposed in public areas, especially streets.

He stressed that the Jeddah Municipality will be applying sanctions against the negligent shopkeepers and is very keen on preserving and improving the hygiene of the city. He also added that the municipality will be promoting food safety and personal hygiene programs to raise awareness about the issue and inform the citizens on how to avoid diseases caused by the negligence.

He ended his statement by thanking the residents and visitors of the city in helping the municipality by reporting unhygienic shops and restaurants, which can be done by calling the municipality’s hotline at 940 and through social networking sites.