MAKKAH — Municipal inspectors in Makkah closed down nearly 50 stores in the city for various violations over the past two days.
Khaled Basfar, head of the Al-Maabdah branch municipality, said 33 food stores and 16 other commercial shops were shut down by the inspectors during routine inspection rounds.
He said 117 cartons of fruit and vegetables, 170 kilograms of chocolate and 12 bags of dates unfit for human consumption were seized and destroyed.
Basfar said the shops were closed for a number of violations including lack of cleanliness, employing workers without health certificates, selling fruit and vegetables without certificates of origin and using unhygienic equipment.
He said a number of expatriate workers without health certificates were apprehended and handed over to the concerned authorities.
The chairman said the municipality would continue its inspection raids against shops and groceries to make sure they do not sell unhygienic foodstuffs to the pilgrims, residents and visitors.
"We will intensify these raids with the climax of the Haj season, which is approaching fast," Basfar said.
