The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has completed its daily inspection campaign of the local market during the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Monday. The inspection campaign mainly targeted factories and warehouses where foodstuffs are manufactured and stored as consumption increased during the holy month of Ramadan. The campaign was carried out in all regions of the Kingdom, particularly in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. It resulted in detecting many violations including tampering with the dates of product expiry and storing foodstuffs in unsuitable conditions. The quantity of seized foodstuffs exceeded 26 tons of solid foodstuffs and 10,000 liters of drinks of various kinds. The SFDA is now completing regulatory procedures against the violators prior to referring them to the Prosecution. The inspectors found more than 22 tons of rice stored in a warehouse. The rice had been repacked in new bags and their labels tampered with. The data tampering included changing the variety of rice and the date of harvest. The inspectors also seized over four tons of foodstuffs, whose expiry dates had been tampered with after repacking. These included macaroni, chili sauce and olive oil. Large quantities of lemon and orange drink, estimated at 9,437 liters, were seized due to nonconformity with the standards and specifications. — SG
