Saudi- Municipality destroys four tons of seized expired meat

(MENAFN- Arab News) Jeddah Municipality inspectors have seized more than 166 rotten slaughtered animals and destroyed four tons of rotten meat during recent inspections of meat shops. A report drafted by the sub-municipalities of the city on the inspection tours conducted during Ramadan said that 21 restaurants and ten kitchens catering for events and banquets have been closed after they were found to violate health and hygiene regulations. The procedures included closing nine fast-food restaurants, three large butcheries, more than 10 cafeterias and a chocolate and candy factory. The report contained statistics on the integrated field efforts made by the municipality, which included destroying 800 dishes of sweets, more than 3,500 kg of chocolate, 75 packs of cheese, 110 bags of expired flour, two tons of dough and 90,000 pieces of ready-made samosas. The municipality also closed down 18 barbershops, three cafés, 120 units of shisha and confiscated 22 carts for street vendors. Penalties included closure of the facilities, seizing tools and machineries and imposing fines up to SR300,000. Warnings were issued against six bakeries for violations. The assistant secretary at the Jeddah municipality, Abdul Majeed Al-Batati, said that field inspections would continue to monitor the implementation of health requirements. Asir Municipality recorded more than 1,000 reports on health and price violations committed by restaurants and barbershops. The municipality took measures against them, said Ibrahim Al-Amer, director of public relations and media.