JEDDAH: Makkah municipality inspectors seized two trucks laden with rotten food while they were entering the holy city of Makkah on Monday.

Rashed Al-Harbi, director of operations department at Makkah Municipality, said he received a message from security patrols at about 2:30 a.m. on Monday about two small Diana trucks loaded with rotten food in the Zaqla bin Rusaifa valley.

He added that the municipal officials rushed to the site and seized the food trucks in the interest of pilgrims who have started arriving in Makkah for this year’s Haj.

He said the municipality has intensified its campaign for clean and healthy food under the supervision of Hani Faqih, director general of services at the municipality, as part of the preparation for the upcoming Haj. He added that every effort is being made to see that the pilgrims perform Haj free of health problems.

Faisal Nimri, head of the operations department at the municipality, said the seized Diana trucks carried more than 5 tons of rotten food of different types, all of which bore expired dates. The truck drivers are in police custody and the municipal authorities have destroyed the rotten food.

Nimri stressed that the municipality is keen to protect the health of the citizens and visitors of the holy city, and will do everything possible to provide a disease-free Haj.

He added that routine and regular checks of shops and restaurants have been intensified and urged all people to cooperate and protect the health of residents and visiting pilgrims.