Eight restaurants were shut down here last month and their owners fined by environmental health inspectors for violating health regulations. An environmental health source at Al-Ahsa Mayoralty told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the inspectors seized rotten meat, fish, vegetables, salads, and rusty stoves, utensils, gas cylinders and refrigerators. The level of hygiene at all eight restaurants was very low, which could have caused severe health problems to customers, the source said. The inspectors have also set regulations with respect to restaurant employees' uniforms. The same source said it is essential that citizens should call the mayoralty at 940 if they spot any violation of health regulations. Callers' identities will remain anonymous, the source said, adding that cases of food poisoning increase during the summer due to high temperatures. __
