Jeddah Municipality destroys a ton of spoiled food and closes down unlicensed sites

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote public health and ensure the safety of food provided to consumers, the Jeddah Governorate Municipality a large-scale proactive field campaign in the east of the governorate, which resulted in important outcomes, including the destruction of about one ton (1000 kilograms) of spoiled food, and the closure of four random sites that were being run in ways that violated municipal regulations and bylaws.

Campaign details and offending sites

The Director General of the General Administration for Monitoring and Addressing Negative Phenomena, Yasser bin Siraj Bakhsh, explained that the inspection teams were able to identify these sites, which were being used for commercial activities without obtaining the necessary licenses. The campaign uncovered serious health violations at the following locations:

• The first location: A residential compound was found to be used for storing and packaging leafy greens and dates in an environment lacking even the most basic hygiene standards, with an infestation of insects and rodents observed. This resulted in the destruction of one ton of leafy greens, the confiscation of 47 cartons of dates, and the seizure of 5 electronic scales and 4 packaging machines.
• The second location: The teams seized a makeshift dairy product (cream) preparation factory operating in extremely poor sanitary conditions, where 40 kg of powdered milk per bag was confiscated, along with all the tools used.
• The third site: an unregulated site for storing car parts and empty cartons, where the Jeddah Company took charge of confiscating the cartons and the Umm Al Salam Municipality closed the site.
• The fourth site: a large yard used for shipping food and clothing, part of which is dedicated to dismantling cars, all of which are activities run without licenses.

General context and importance of municipal oversight

These intensive campaigns are an integral part of the Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing's strategy to eliminate slums and negative phenomena that mar the urban landscape and threaten public safety. These efforts align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 , specifically the Quality of Life Program, which aims to improve services for citizens and residents and provide a healthy and safe living environment.

These seizures are of paramount importance on both the health and economic fronts. From a health perspective, destroying these large quantities of spoiled food helps protect the community from the risks of food poisoning and foodborne illnesses, especially given the lack of hygiene standards in unregulated storage facilities. Economically, combating these unlicensed activities promotes fair competition and protects legitimate investors who adhere to standards and regulations, thus contributing to the stability of the local market.

The role of society in promoting compliance

The Jeddah Municipality emphasized that community oversight is a key partner in the success of these campaigns. The municipality urged all citizens and residents to report any municipal or health violations they observe through official channels such as the "Baladi" app available on smartphones, or by contacting the unified reporting center (940), stressing that community cooperation directly contributes to eliminating these negative phenomena.