Unhygienic restaurants punished

A number of restaurants has been closed down over the past couple of days by the Jeddah municipality after they breached health laws.

The municipality action came after a number of videos and pictures of rotten fish and unsavory cooking methods surfaced on the internet. The municipality sealed three fish restaurants of a Dahban restaurant chain, on account of several unhealthy practices. 

A branch of the Tazaj chain of restaurants was also shuttered after authorities confirmed that one of its workers kneaded dough on the floor, as shown on a video clip posted on social media.

The municipality fined these restaurants for violating public health rules and punished the lawbreaking establishments by publishing the names on its website.

Mohammed Buqami, official spokesman for the Jeddah Municipality, said in a statement that in the past publishing the names of offending restaurants was not a common practice, but according to the new rules and regulations, they decided to not only close down the business and fine the owners, but also punish them so that customers know which establishments are not following the law.

Buqami said this also serves as a wake-up call for other establishments who aren't following health and sanitary regulations, since it's very hard for a restaurant to recover after such a blow.

According to the municipality, some restaurants have been found washing meat in the toilet. 

The fish restaurants committed even more serious hygiene and health offenses. Authorities estimate that the total rotten fish seized so far weighed over 720 kg.

Additionally, six other restaurants were booked for poor food preservation and storage and the staff maintaining poor hygiene.