The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has told regional officials to step up checks on food outlets “to ensure compliance with health regulations and protect consumers” as Ramadan approaches. “All places related to public health need to be inspected more often and it must be ensured that food outlets offering a variety of food, particularly iftar and suhour meals, are in compliance with health regulations,” the ministry said. The ministry made special mention of stores selling dried fruit and nuts, the consumption of which increases in Ramadan, as well as date packaging plants and sweet and confectionary outlets. General hygiene, the ministry said, was to be inspected along with that of employees at shops and stalls offering food. The ministry also banned the display of food and drink products on the ground in front of stores, and instructed officials to check that food was being transported and stored correctly and hygienically. Several shops selling unhygienic food stuffs were either penalized or ordered closed recently in Jeddah.
