A big news has come out regarding the quality of food items in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has stopped 1,671 tons of food items entering the country during the last quarter of 2025. This action was taken when investigation found that the food was not safe for people’s health and had several deficiencies. Keeping in mind the safety of the people, the authority has adopted a policy of zero tolerance.
Error detected in strict investigation
The authority has launched a large-scale campaign to ensure food safety. According to the latest report, a total of 8,897 facilities were visited and inspected 11,547 times. During this period, 1,460 such establishments were found which were not following the rules. When these stopped items were examined in the lab, the results were quite serious.
The report states that harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes were found in the seized food items. These bacteria can enter the body through food and cause serious diseases. For this reason the department stopped these shipments even before they reached the market.
Strict rules for fines and punishment
SFDA has made it clear that strict legal action will be taken against those who play with the food rules. For this, a rule has been made to impose heavy fine and jail sentence. If someone intentionally sells spoiled food or breaks the rules, he may have to suffer huge losses. The general public can also contact number 19999 to report any violation.
The action to be taken in case of breaking the rules is as follows:
Maximum fine: Up to 10 million riyals (SR) Jail sentence: Up to 10 years’ imprisonment Impact on license: Permission to work may be revoked Operation: Shop or factory operations may be stopped
