By Abdulghani Alqash
EVERY now and then newspapers report incidents of food poisoning with restaurants being the main culprits. People who suffer from food poisoning after eating food at such restaurants end up in hospital with some even dying. What is sad is that the relevant authorities do not impose harsh penalties on restaurants. They just shut them down for a few days and give them a small fine.
Recently, around 175 people suffered food poisoning shortly after eating at the same restaurant. The statement released by officials was strange because it did not say anything about compensating victims. I was shocked when I read the statement. It seemed as if a green light was being given to other restaurants to go ahead and sell poisoned food to the public. The message given to them, it seems, was that the worst that would happen is that they would be shut down for a few days. Where is the concern for public health and safety?
It is sad to see the authorities blaming each other. The municipality blames the Ministry of Health while the latter says it does not have the power to fine shops. Some restaurants are taking advantage of the situation and continue to violate hygiene regulations with the knowledge that they will not be heavily fined.
Fines and penalties imposed on restaurants should be reconsidered and all the laws dealing with violations related to restaurants should be reviewed and studied, as some of them are old. The newly amended and reviewed laws should be published so that every member of the public is aware of them. Only then will restaurants think twice before violating health and safety regulations.
A number of factories processing spices and dates were recently raided by the authorities following reports that they were not adhering to proper hygiene practice. Rotten food was confiscated but there was no follow-up on the penalties and fines imposed on the violators. In fact, a number of restaurants tend to store inedible food or cook food in unhealthy settings like toilets. I cannot understand why violators are not handed heavy penalties so that they will stop such practices.
