Ranya authorities close poultry, fast food shops for health violations

RANYA — Joint committees under the Ranya district administration in Sulaymaniyah Governorate shuttered two poultry shops and one fast-food outlet on Saturday over health violations, officials said. The closures occurred during ongoing inspections throughout Ramadan.

In a statement, district authorities said the shops were shut down for failing to meet basic health standards and for having expired products. Inspectors also seized 35 kilograms of spoiled meat at one of the establishments.

The crackdown is part of continuing efforts to address expired or contaminated food. In February, Sulaymaniyah authorities closed 21 businesses for similar violations, referred three owners to court, and confiscated more than 36 tons of food.

On March 3, local officials confiscated about five tons of smuggled frozen animal liver, one day after seizing 60 tons of expired frozen meat. Authorities said the meat, deemed unfit for human consumption, was intended for sale during Ramadan.