Heatwave Triggers Stricter Checks on Restaurants and Cold Stores

TDT | Manama 

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Authorities in Bahrain have intensified food safety inspections across restaurants, bakeries, cold stores and cafeterias as rising summer temperatures increase the risk of violations and food contamination.

Municipal inspectors have uncovered issues including expired goods on shelves, poor hygiene, pest infestations, drainage problems, and unsafe storage practices such as water bottles exposed to direct sunlight. Some cold stores were also found mixing old and new stock.

Officials also reported cases of unauthorized medicine sales and inconsistent pricing in certain outlets.

At a meeting of the Northern Municipal Council's Public Relations and Media Committee, officials from multiple government bodies said inspections are carried out based on risk levels rather than random checks, with high-priority focus on food outlets such as shawarma shops, bakeries and catering businesses.

Complaints are received through the government's Tawasul system, hotline and WhatsApp, and are categorized mainly into expired food cases and suspected food poisoning incidents. Authorities noted that not all reported illnesses are linked to food contamination, with some related to allergies or other health factors.

Repeat offenders face stricter action, including legal referral to the Public Prosecution in serious cases. Officials said enforcement has been effective in improving compliance across affected areas.