Catering service fined after Pinoys contract food poisoning in Jeddah

A Jeddah-based food catering company has been fined SR732,700 (P8,648,384) for causing 215 Filipinos to contract food poisoning, the Arab News reported on Sunday.

The report said the Municipality of Jeddah announced the fine and month-long closure of the catering company last Thursday.

The decision came after a full-scale investigation was launched by the Yanbu Food and Drug Authority, the Health Ministry, and Jeddah Municipality's quality control department, linking the company to the incident.

A separate report on Saudi Gazette said the inspectors found expired raw materials and unhygienic utensils in the facility.

Blood samples were also taken from the 50 workers on-site, none of whom possessed a health card.

Sami Nawar, spokesperson for the Jeddah Municipality, said the financial penalty imposed on the company is the largest fines imposed on a food enterprise.

Both reports did not mention the catering firm's name. — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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