JFDA registers drop in violations by food outlets in Ramadan

AMMAN — The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) said on Wednesday that there has been a drop in the number of restaurants that violated food safety regulations this Ramadan compared to last year.

Of the 3,693 food outlets that the JFDA inspected during the first half of Ramadan, 299 (0.8 per cent) were either suspended or closed for violating food safety regulations, compared to 13.6 per cent in the same period of Ramadan last year, according to figures from the administration.

The drop in the rate of violations is due to continuous follow-up and regular inspection campaigns organised by the concerned authorities, according to JFDA Director Hayel Obeidat.

But the campaigns were intensified during Ramadan as it is also the summer season and food spoils quickly in hot weather, Obeidat added. 

In addition, inspection teams have destroyed around 130 tonnes of food products and drinks. Approximately 67 per cent of the food the JFDA destroyed was in Irbid, followed by Karak.

Meanwhile, 60 per cent of the outlet closures were in Amman, followed by Zarqa and Irbid.

The JFDA has also referred owners of 390 food outlets to court for not obtaining the required licences to run the business, or work permits for the labourers.

The administration called on the public to contact its free hotline 080022660 if they have any concerns about food outlets, restaurants or sweets shops.