Ministry steps up food safety inspections before Ramadan
13:35, 12 August 2009
RIYADH. August 12. KAZINFORM The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs issued a circular to all municipalities to increase inspections of food establishments before the start of the month of Ramadan, Kazinform refers to Arab News.
The ministry urged health departments to prepare complete programs that would focus on unauthorized street-food peddling and ensure that all food establishments follow health procedures.
Focus will also be on food transportation and officials have been asked to make sure all trucks transporting foodstuff fit the standards set out by the municipalities. In the event of violations by personnel or companies the punishment set out is severe. Repeat offenders face double punishments. Food poisoning is a problem that is all too common during Haj and Umrah each year. Expired food often finds its way to customers through restaurants, which fail to meet health and safety regulations, Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.