Muscat Municipality also closed seven foodstuff shops and issued notices to 62 shops for violations after its inspectors raided 1,004 establishments. They disposed of 72 tonnes of foodstuff found unfit for human consumption last week alone. At the Mawaleh Vegetables and Fruits Central Market, inspection teams carried out 1,013 inspection visits, which resulted in the issuance of ten notices for violations of health related norms and disposal of 27,935kg of vegetables and fruits.

An official at the Muscat Municipality told the Times of Oman that the municipality has intensified inspection visits during the Holy Month of Ramadan by carrying out surprise raids on a daily basis.

"The inspection teams work round-the-clock and cover all the areas in the capital to ensure the safety of the consumers," the official said. The official added that Muscat Municipality immediately responds to any complaints by the citizens and residents, most of which are about the restaurants.

The Muscat Municipality received and dealt with 120 complaints last week alone. As many as 3,000 inspection visits have been conducted by the Muscat Municipality during Ramadan so far, resulting in more than 100 tonne of food stuff being destroyed and 60 shops ordered to shut down. In the recent visits to the Al Mawaleh Central Market, the authorities ordered the removal of 3,938kg of vegetables and fruits found unsuitable for human consumption.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Ibra intensified its inspections of markets, shops and restaurants to ensure availability of only good quality food for the citizens and residents.

The municipality also conducted awareness programmes for the housewives about the foodstuff and other products. Muscat Municipality requests citizens and residents to contact the Call Centre via the toll free number 1111 to report any cases or register any observations.