Jerusalem City Hall food inspectors accompanied by veterinary service officials and inspectors of the Ministry of Health paid a visit to the Malcha Mall in Yerushalayim to inspect eateries. They were shocked at what they found.

They visited 15 food establishments and confiscated 80 kilograms (176 lbs) of meat “unfit for human consumption”.

“We knew the visit would be difficult be we never imagined just how difficult,” said a source in City Hall, adding, “We found ourselves calling for backup as we confiscate kilos of meat. We are talking about the Malcha Shopping Mall, not the shuk or an off-the-street shop,” he added.

Beginning at Sbarro, the inspectors confiscated 16 kilograms of chickpeas that were outdated. At Burger Ranch, 9.4 kilograms of meat that was outdated was confiscated. 70 kilograms of meat was confiscated from Thai Noodles after they realized the meat was not refrigerated properly and posed a health hazard.

As a result of deplorable sanitary conditions, legal action is being taken against HaPitilia Restaurant, Korisin Steak Restaurant, Pinati Humus Restaurant, and Thai Noodles, which city officials believe will lead to their closure.

In other restaurants in which numerous violations were recorded, another inspection will be carried out to ensure the deficiencies are corrected. This list includes SamBooki, Café Ne’eman, M’Kol HaLev Steakhouse, Yutvata B’Ir, Burgers Bar, and Crispy. Unlike restaurants found in the Machane Yehuda Shuk, most of the restaurants cited in the mall are branches of nationwide chains, which give the impression that they operate under a higher standard. This does not seem to be the case in Malcha however.

Inspectors also visited public areas which are under the jurisdiction of the mall operators, and unfortunately there too the sanitary conditions were unacceptable, including the stairways, some hallways and particularly the hallways leading from the main mall to bathrooms.

To end on a positive note, a recent city inspection of Machane Yehuda revealed that conditions have improved drastically and the overall picture was a positive one.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)