The Eastern Dammam Municipality shuttered 17 shops and destroyed more than 40,000 kilograms of foodstuff during Ramadan, a municipal official said in statement Friday.

The municipality staged a campaign to inspect the markets to make sure that customers receive hygienic food, especially during the month of Ramadan and Eid celebrations when some shopkeepers tend to violate regulations to make a quick buck.

“The shops and food outlets were closed because they did not carry valid licenses, lacked hygiene, had poor storage of foodstuff or lacked health certificates,” Chairman of the Eastern Dammam Municipality Ziyad Al-Sowaidan said in a statement.

He added that workers not wearing proper uniforms at food outlet is a violation of municipal regulations.

“The inspectors fined some violators SR170,700,” he said. “They also found that 44,919 kg of food ready for sale were unfit for human consumption.”

The inspectors discovered 532 violations in all and issued 243 warning notices to the violators.

He added that the municipality would continue its inspections to ensure that the citizens get the most hygienic food and the violators are severely punished.