Several unhygienic shops and eateries were fined and issued warnings during surprise inspection visits in the first quarter of the Hijra year, Mazin Bakharji, Director of Dammam Municipality, said here Monday. The municipality teams found foodstuffs with expired dates, fruits, vegetables and canned food not suitable for human consumption. Some violators were fined on the spot while others were issued warnings, the official said. Bakharji said over 1,751 inspection visits were paid to restaurants, shops, markets and canteens to ensure that they do not sell material harmful to public health. “We destroyed 24,161 kg of rotten food and issued 961 fines worth SR264,100. Employees who didn't have heath certificates or who didn't keep hygienic environment at the workplace and those who didn't wear gloves were fined as well,” he said. Over 1,031 shops and restaurants were issued warnings, he added. The municipality also issued licenses to 620 news shops and restaurants and renewed licenses for 1,171 shops and restaurants, he pointed out. He reiterated that the municipality will exert all possible efforts to prevent violations by shops selling rotten foodstuffs. __
