Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP) has sanctioned two high-end restaurants in Al Sadd and the West Bay Lagoon for serving food that apparently passed its expiration date.

The closures were posted on MMUP’s website in Arabic, but did not specify which eateries at the venues were affected.

However, staff at the Diplomatic Club told Doha News that Le Grill was ordered shut for 10 days, as of May 4.

Also on Monday, the Millennium Hotel was told to partly close for 15 days for also serving expired food.

An employee there said the hotel’s Atrium Cafe, which serves coffee, pastries and other snacks, will be shut for the next two weeks.

Expanded mandate

The closures come as the MMUP seeks to increase the number of spot checks and inspections it undertakes to catch any potential food violations.

Amendments were made to the food law last February that gave authorities more power to punish venues that serve meals deemed unfit for human consumption.

At that time, the ministry was also given the legal ability to name and shame closed restaurants, albeit only on its website.

Though skepticism was expressed about whether high-profile businesses would be sanctioned publicly, this week’s closures appear to indicate that officials are not playing favorites.

Food poisoning

As the weather heats up, incidences of food poisoning become more common in Qatar.

Health officials have previously advised residents to ensure that their food is stored properly, prepared in a hygienic environment and cooked thoroughly before consuming.

To improve safety standards in restaurants, the Supreme Council of Health also launched a hotline late last year for residents to report food poisoning cases.

The mobile numbers are 6674 0948 and 6674 0951.

Once a report is filed, a team from the SCH promises to visit the affected people, then inspect the related food outlet and collect samples for laboratory examination.

Thoughts?