Food safety during Ramadan crucial for all

Increase in community-driven activities to prepare and serve eatables heightens need for greater vigil

The issue of food safety, which is a round-the-clock priority of the UAE government, gets highlighted during Ramadan owing to the spike in sales and distribution of food items. The fact that the month of fasting has been occurring in the long, hot months of the summer for some years now also calls for a more vigilant outlook on food safety as food, from its production to its consumption cycle, is more vulnerable to spoilage and contamination due to the heat.

The decision by the authorities to initiate a multi-pronged inspection programme through the month for commercial establishments of every kind, covering every aspect of food handling, packaging, transportation and distribution, will assuage public concern and shore up confidence.

Concomitant with this vigilance are the strict regulations and stiff penalties for violators.

Food safety is an extremely important issue that is at the heart of public safety and health and during Ramadan, the increase in number of community-driven activities of preparing and serving food for large contingents of people, heightens the need to ensure hygiene and adherence to rules.

Apart from the macro responsibility by establishments involved in the food chain, it is also the duty and responsibility of every individual to follow food safety rules. It is a common irony to find families unaware of the basic rules of hygiene, transport, storage and handling of various categories of food items and fresh produce — from the time of purchase to preparation at home. Little heed is paid to kitchen rules and this sort of laxity can at times lead to many unpleasant, even dangerous, health consequences for people.