The Directorate of Education in Jeddah has registered more than 200 cases of food poisoning in the past three months, mainly because of schoolchildren buying unhygienic foodstuff from street vendors after school hours.

Jeddah governorate spokesman Abdul Majid Al-Ghamdi told Arab News that schoolchildren buy ice cream, potato chips and nuts, which are left uncovered and could be contaminated. He called on parents to warn their children against buying from street vendors outside schools, because they don’t abide by health rules and they sell contaminated and unhealthy food.

Parents also expressed their apprehensions about the large number of ice cream vans and mobile stalls doing business outside schools. They thought they could cause food poisoning to children buying stuff from them.

They told Arab News that the manner in which these food items were prepared and sold to children by expatriates who don’t abide by health rules could expose such foodstuff to contamination. A school principal in an elementary school said he shares the fears of the parents, but he doesn’t have the authority to send the vendors away, because this matter is related to the municipality, traffic and security patrols.

The Jeddah Municipality said the problem lies with some parents who patronize some of these vendors.

Eisa Al-Sulami, a parent, said: “Ice cream vans that move from one school to another sell poison to children, because ice cream, just like any other food item, could be contaminated, posing risk to children’s health. Laborers who handle the product don’t abide by hygiene standards. They don’t wear gloves while serving the children which add more risks.”

“Selling ice cream under the scorching sun causes influenza, and food poisoning, because warmth provides an ideal environment for bacteria,” said Muhsin Abdullah Bahri, another parent.

Ahmad Al-Naimi said these mobile cars pose another threat; the children face the risk of being run over by other cars when they try to reach the ice cream van.

Ahmad bin Ali Tawashi, principal of Othman bin Affan Elementary School in Jeddah, said: “We have a problem with such mobile vendors but can’t do anything except for asking them to park a few meters away. Only the municipality has the authority to order them away. Street vendors, including ice cream vans, or mobile stalls that sell nuts and chips, commit many violations. They have no health certificates or a license to practice this business activity.”

Al-Ghamdi said the municipality has field teams to follow up on street vendors. These teams have the authority to arrest, penalize and fine street vendors based on the magnitude of violation. There is, however, a problem with some parents trying to cover up for vendors, saying the municipality was trying to ruin their business, he said, adding that the municipality will continue with its efforts to stop all these violations.