Some 2,000 kilograms of rotten date paste and 1,000 Zamzam bottles stored under direct sunlight were confiscated from a rest house in Makkah.

MAKKAH – The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has confiscated 2,000 kilograms of rotten date paste that was going to be distributed in Makkah.

The ministry’s inspectors also found and destroyed 1,000 Zamzam bottles that were stored under direct sunlight in a rest house located at Al-Hussainiya neighborhood in Makkah.
All expatriate workers inside the house were arrested.

The raid came after a tipoff from a member of the public.

Preliminary investigations showed the persons who were running the place wanted to make profit in view of the huge influx of Umrah pilgrims in Makkah.

The ministry said it will continue to carry out raids and surprise inspections to all food businesses and warehouses and impose severe penalties on violators and anyone who takes public health lightly.

It urged the general public to report violations at 800 124 1616.