SFDA Shuts Frozen Food Factory Over Serious Health Violations
RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has taken decisive action by shutting down a frozen ready-to-eat food factory, while also suspending production lines at various facilities, owing to severe health violations that jeopardized consumer safety. These actions were part of an inspection campaign undertaken last month as the SFDA sought to enforce compliance with national food safety standards and avert potential foodborne illnesses.
The inspection at one particular facility dealing in pickles and ready meals unveiled unsatisfactory hygiene conditions, unsafe operating practices, and ineffective safety supervision. These conditions were conducive to the proliferation of harmful pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, and Salmonella spp., which are known to cause acute food poisoning. Despite being given a deadline to rectify these issues as per Article 12 of the Food Law (Royal Decree No. M/38, dated 28/4/1440H), the facility failed to comply, leading to a full suspension of its production lines and the initiation of legal proceedings.
Other violations were noted at a facility producing ready-to-eat poultry products, such as employing unlicensed workers, lacking a valid HACCP food safety certification, inadequate separation of expired food storage, and the utilization of corroded, unsafe food-contact equipment. Consequently, the SFDA imposed fines under Article 20 of the Food Law’s executive regulations and partially suspended operations until corrective measures are implemented.
Moreover, 11 production lines across several dairy and frozen pastry plants were also suspended following lab tests confirming contamination with Clostridium perfringens, a common foodborne illness agent. All facilities have been instructed to establish corrective action plans within 30 days, entailing quality system upgrades, staff retraining, and replacement of non-compliant equipment, with follow-up inspections planned to ensure compliance.
The SFDA iterated that these actions underscore its commitment to preventive public health protection and are backed by legal provisions that permit stringent actions, including suspension, imprisonment, or fines up to SR10 million. The authority encouraged consumers to report suspected food violations through the unified hotline (19999), reaffirming that food safety is a shared responsibility spanning from production to the dining table.
