Saudi Arabia: Mobile labs to test worshippers’ food at Grand Mosque in Mecca

Saudi Arabia: Mobile labs to test worshippers’ food at Grand Mosque in Mecca

Cairo: Saudi municipal authorities in Mecca are operating mobile laboratories in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site, to check food provided to worshippers and pilgrims during Ramadan. The facilities, provided by the municipality’s Food Safety department, tests food and meals offered to worshippers to end their fast daily at sunset during Ramadan. The municipality said the step aims to verify suitability of the food and regularly analyse samples at the site. The service is part of an integrated system in effect round the clock at the sacred site during Ramadan, which usually marks the peak season of Umrah or lesser pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. For its part, the General Presidency for Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques earlier this month said it launched a programme at the Grand Mosque for testing dates eaten by worshippers to break the day-long fast in Ramadan. Millions of Muslims from around the globe flock to the holy places in Saudi Arabia, mainly in Ramadan, for worshipping and undertaking Umrah. Saudi Arabia expects the number of Umrah pilgrims since the onset of the season last July will reach 9 million by the end of Ramadan. Saudi authorities have in recent months unveiled