The illegal kitchen from where an unspecified number of Africans were arrested.

The Makkah Municipality recently raided an unlicensed kitchen in Aziziah district of the holy city and arrested a number of Africans who were preparing food for pilgrims.

“The area has many buildings where pilgrims were staying during the Haj season,” said Mohammed Felal, technical affairs director.

The Africans were handed over to the municipality’s security authorities.

The team destroyed 30 slaughtered sheep and confiscated 250 bags of rice, 40 cartons of chicken, 120 bags of garlic and onions, vegetables and spices, he said.

Felal said that the municipality will also continue inspecting all markets and restaurants to purge the area of illegal businesses and ensure the health of pilgrims.

The raiding team headed by Musharaf Al-Maghribi included Yahya Qhatani, Nasser Al-Sharif, Mamdouh Jistirya, Khalid Shaikh and Khalid Al-Matrafi.

The municipality of Makkah had arrested four foreigners who were illegally cooking food for pilgrims on the rooftop of an apartment in Abu Tabanja district during the Haj season.

During the raid, municipality representatives also seized and confiscated 600 kilos of various kinds of vegetables, rice, 19 gas pipelines, large pots and household cooking equipment, among others.

An expert has said there are three frequent health issues that pilgrims, or any person engaged in a physically demanding journey might face — infections, food poisoning and heatstrokes.

Consumption of food cooked in illegal kitchens can pose health risks. Worse still, it becomes difficult for the authorities to hold anyone responsible in case of seriously food poisoning. Hence, strict vigil is kept on such activity.

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