Officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry destroyed 24,000 food items unfit for human consumption in Madinah.

The ministry said in a statement recently that violators of regulations governing the sale of food items are currently being investigated and will face punitive action.

Ad hoc inspections at food outlets and consumer goods markets were launched after Haj pilgrims and visitors began arriving in Madinah in huge numbers.

Pilgrims usually go to Madinah after performing Haj to visit the Prophet’s Mosque prior to leaving the Kingdom.

During inspections, ministry officials seized 3,277 electronic and electrical devices of inferior quality.

The inspectors also seized numerous articles that violated Islamic values.

The Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday that consumer goods of dubious quality were sent to a laboratory for detailed investigation.

Inspectors are continuously visiting shopping centers, warehouses, markets and factories to prevent the sale of imitation or fake goods.

The ministry requests that customers call 800-1241-616 to report faulty items.

Most consumers in Madinah are foreign pilgrims who are eager to buy various kinds of low-cost electronic and electrical devices to take home.

A statement made by the secretariat of the Haj Committee said that more than 411,000 pilgrims arrived in Madinah after Haj. While 215,570 have already returned back home, some 195,648 pilgrims still remain in the city.