SFDA penalizes food safety violators
Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has taken punitive measures against erring food establishments in various regions of Saudi Arabia. It affirmed zero tolerance for any violations affecting food safety.
Inspection teams from SFDA, in coordination with relevant government agencies, detected a number of violations related to food safety and quality as part of their ongoing inspections of food establishments. This inspection aims to enhance proactive oversight and limit any practices that lead to contamination or food poisoning.
The inspections resulted in the seizure of more than two tons of food of unknown origin, in addition to the destruction of approximately 200 kg of spoiled products unfit for human consumption. Large quantities of food stored in conditions that do not comply with health requirements and standards were also detected at a residential site run by expatriate workers. The workers were arrested and legal action was taken against them.
In a related development, the SFDA halted production lines at a food factory after seizing approximately 150 kg of products of unknown origin. The inspection tours revealed several violations affecting product safety, including the possession of unknown raw materials and a clear decline in hygiene standards, which led to spreading of insects inside the raw materials warehouse, along with rust in food preparation equipment, the use of ineffective insect traps, and the presence of expired materials in the production hall. The emergency door was also found as a direct passage for workers to the production area, in violation of safe entry standards for food establishments.
These measures are part of the precautionary oversight process aimed at protecting consumers and highlight the effectiveness of coordination and integration between relevant authorities in ensuring establishments' compliance with safety and quality standards.
The authority reiterated that it has taken all necessary legal measures against violators, noting that violating the Food Law and its executive regulations is punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or a fine of up to SR10 million, or both. The authority stressed its continued efforts to monitor food establishments' compliance with regulatory requirements, calling for reporting any violations via the unified number 19999.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
11 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi security forces arrest 13,532 illegals in a week
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — A total of 13,532 illegal residents were arrested in Saudi Arabia in a week. The arrests were made during the inspections, carried out by the security forces in collaboration with the relevant government agencies, during the period between June 19 and June 25, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday. Those who were arrested include 7,903 violators of the Residency Law, 3,744 violators of the Border Security Law, and 1,885 violators of the Labor Law. The ministry said that a total of 9,479 illegals were deported while 6,225 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents and 2,072 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations. The total number of people who were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom accounted for 1,892, of whom 31 percent were Yemeni nationals, 67 percent Ethiopian nationals, and two percent belonged to other nationalities. Some 17 people, involved in giving transportation, shelter, and employment for violators, were also arrested. A total of 11,908 illegal residents, including 10,783 men and 1,125 women, are currently undergoing various phases of legal procedures as part of punitive measures against them. The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person, who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalized with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million. It noted that the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for giving shelter will be confiscated. The ministry urged the public to report any cases of violation by calling the number 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and the numbers 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom's regions.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
SFDA penalizes food safety violators
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has taken punitive measures against erring food establishments in various regions of Saudi Arabia. It affirmed zero tolerance for any violations affecting food safety. Inspection teams from SFDA, in coordination with relevant government agencies, detected a number of violations related to food safety and quality as part of their ongoing inspections of food establishments. This inspection aims to enhance proactive oversight and limit any practices that lead to contamination or food poisoning. The inspections resulted in the seizure of more than two tons of food of unknown origin, in addition to the destruction of approximately 200 kg of spoiled products unfit for human consumption. Large quantities of food stored in conditions that do not comply with health requirements and standards were also detected at a residential site run by expatriate workers. The workers were arrested and legal action was taken against them. In a related development, the SFDA halted production lines at a food factory after seizing approximately 150 kg of products of unknown origin. The inspection tours revealed several violations affecting product safety, including the possession of unknown raw materials and a clear decline in hygiene standards, which led to spreading of insects inside the raw materials warehouse, along with rust in food preparation equipment, the use of ineffective insect traps, and the presence of expired materials in the production hall. The emergency door was also found as a direct passage for workers to the production area, in violation of safe entry standards for food establishments. These measures are part of the precautionary oversight process aimed at protecting consumers and highlight the effectiveness of coordination and integration between relevant authorities in ensuring establishments' compliance with safety and quality standards. The authority reiterated that it has taken all necessary legal measures against violators, noting that violating the Food Law and its executive regulations is punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or a fine of up to SR10 million, or both. The authority stressed its continued efforts to monitor food establishments' compliance with regulatory requirements, calling for reporting any violations via the unified number 19999.
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi-Syrian cooperation foils attempt to smuggle over 200,000 amphetamine tablets
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub, security spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, stated that proactive security efforts to monitor criminal networks involved in drug trafficking have led to the foiling of an attempt to smuggle more than 200,000 amphetamine tablets from Syria to Saudi Arabia. The operation was carried out by the Syrian Ministry of Interior, based on intelligence provided by the Saudi Ministry of Interior. Al-Shalhoub praised the strong collaboration with Syrian authorities in tracking and seizing the narcotics, highlighting the importance of cross-border cooperation in combating such illicit activities. He affirmed that the Kingdom remains committed to monitoring and combating criminal activities that target the Kingdom, its youth, and the global community with drugs, and will continue to take firm action to foil such attempts and apprehend those involved in such crimes.
