Cairo: Local authorities in a Saudi area, sweating in summer heat, have banned restaurants and snack outlets from preparing different types of salad to prevent potential food poisoning, Saudi online newspaper Sabq reported Wednesday.
Health inspectors in the Governorate of Bareq in the Saudi south-western region of Asir have intensified tours of local eateries to ensure compliance with the ban.
Inspectors have so far destroyed 16 litres of pre-prepared liquid salad, considering the dish a violation of hygiene rules due to the rising temperatures, according to the report.
Service providers have been instructed to shift to wrapped salad packets manufactured by well-known companies with labels displaying production and expiry dates as well as ingredients of the food.
Head of the Bareq Municipality Mohammed Marzn has directed inspectors to check health certificates of workers in food stores and to strictly penalise violators of food safety regulations.
Temperatures in Bareq hit 42 degrees Celsius Wednesday.
