Food complements, such as coffee, tea, sugar, soy sauce, and ketchup (distributed for pilgrims), are required to be Indonesian products
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Hajj pilgrims will be provided condiments, including sugar, soy sauce, and ketchup, as well as tea and coffee, by two days at the latest after their arrival in Saudi Arabia, a Hajj official stated.

"Food complements, such as coffee, tea, sugar, soy sauce, and ketchup (distributed for pilgrims), are required to be Indonesian products," Indonesian Hajj Organising Committee's (PPIH's) catering department head, Beni Darmawan, stated in Medina, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

He confirmed that Indonesian Hajj officials had directly inspected all processes of preparation pertaining to consumption for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims during their stay in the holy land.

Some 13 catering companies in Medina have been hired to supply food for Indonesian pilgrims, the department head remarked, adding that eight companies will supply lunch, while other five companies are tasked with supplying dinner.

Government officials will constantly monitor food preparations for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims to ensure the food will be safe and proper for consumption, he affirmed.

"One hour before its distribution, catering companies are required to submit the food sample to our officials," Darmawan stated.

The official noted that the seven first Indonesian pilgrims groups would arrive in Medina on Saturday. They will stay in Medina for a maximum of nine days to perform Hajj rituals at the Prophet's Mosque and in the city, he remarked.

Arriving pilgrims will receive their food appropriate to their arrival time, as the first group arriving at noon will receive their food from the lunch service, while the other six groups arriving in the afternoon will get their first food in Medina during the dinner service, he explained.

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Translator: Desi Purnamawati, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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