Riyadh, March 6 -- With the holy month of Ramzan approaching, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched a program to examine the dates, which are given to break the fast in the Grand Mosque in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The tests are conducted by specialists from the General Presidency for Affairs of the Grand Mosque to ensure the quality of the dates provided for worshippers.

A team has been appointed to conduct field tours of the sprawling site to check the quality of dates served in fast-ending meals and to carry out 12 field and laboratory tests including moisture testing, iron and zinc levels, fungi and coliform bacteria, and metallurgical.

The tests also includes heavy metals, sugars, and insolubl...