Saudi ministry shuts down food chain branches after food poisoning reports

On Sunday, the Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing issued a statement announcing the temporary closure of branches of a food establishment.

The statement follows reports from several media outlets and social media accounts claiming that authorities shut down branches of a well-known Egyptian dessert chain in Saudi Arabia due to a large number of food poisoning cases linked to its products. The popular brand also has several outlets in the UAE.

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The popular dessert chain, known for its Egyptian-inspired sweets, has rapidly gained recognition across the Gulf but now faces increased scrutiny following the incident. According to reports, authorities have confiscated food samples for laboratory analysis, and apps like Jahez and HungerStation suspended the chain's listings on delivery services.

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Referring to the reports, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, without naming the brand, clarified that through the efforts of its municipal teams across various regions, it has promptly addressed the complaints through field inspection teams and has taken the necessary regulatory measures to ensure public health and safety.

The ministry further noted that most suspected cases of food poisoning have recovered, while the remaining cases are receiving the necessary medical care and are in stable condition.

The ministry confirmed that in coordination with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, it had responded to the reported cases and handled them according to the approved procedures.

As a precautionary measure, the manufacturing facilities and branches of the establishment have been temporarily closed until the completion of verification and analysis processes.

The ministry reiterated that consumer health and safety are top priorities. It continued to coordinate with the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of food products. The ministry also urged the public to verify information before sharing and to rely on official sources for accurate updates.