A group of Asian expat workers recently fell victim to the dire language barrier that exists between themselves and authorities.
The workers were caught on video allegedly whipping up soup using dog bones during inspection rounds although they were, in fact, using nothing but the bones of sheep and cows.
The videoclip, which shows them cooking in filthy conditions at a residential building in the Petromin District, went viral on the Internet among Saudis.
The workers, who distribute food to restaurants, were caught off-guard and were unable to defend themselves when probed.
The clip exploited the image of bones and the sound of a dog barking in the background, which only served to exacerbate the rumor.
The workers were humiliated throughout the day on Saturday by the rumor frenzy that had engulfed them.
The Jeddah Municipality, however, eventually issued a statement that denied the information and confirmed that the soup was being made using the bones of sheep and cows.
“We had received information from security officials on the spot,” one source said. “We inspected the sight and found no traces of dog slaughter.”
“The dog had been barking from a nearby house,” he said.
The Jeddah Municipality also confirmed that its sole role was only to ensure food health standards.
The municipality recently closed seven restaurants in the Nuzlah Yamaniah District for failing to adhere to health standards.