Civic bodies across UAE ramp up food safety inspections
dubai/sharjah/fujairah/ajman — Municipalities across the UAE have stepped up campaigns to zero in on food establishments to ensure there’s no compromise on hygiene and food safety during the holy month of Ramadan.
800 warehouses inspected
The Dubai Municipality has inspected as many as 800 food warehouses during the ongoing campaign. The inspectors plan to visit 500 supermarkets and hypermarkets in Dubai as the drive gains momentum. At the beginning of the month, the campaign will target cooperative societies and big shops and inspect the display and storage of items.
The civic body kicked off the campaign by inspecting 80 food establishments operating in the emirate, including food warehouses. It has assigned a team to follow up with these food outlets throughout the year, and intensify awareness campaigns in order to reduce the malpractices and violations.
The municipality cracked down on 50 food depots, which contain rice, flour, juices of various kinds and other materials, to ensure that the storage is in proper hygienic conditions and is in compliance with the prescribed norms.
Orgaised campaigns will be carried out throughout Ramadan even in the evening until midnight on the establishments that sell consumer products in the emirate.
1,034 violations in Sharjah
The Sharjah Municipality carried out 11,000 inspection visits to food outlets in the first quarter of this year and issued 1,034 violations against units that did not comply with the prescribed health requirements and standards. The inspectors also warned 2,320 establishments to take corrective measures, while confiscating and destroying 106,344kg food items found unfit for human consumption.
The intensive crackdown comes as the civic body ramps up efforts to ensure food safety for consumers during the holy month of Ramadan.
Omar Al Muhairi, head of Food Control Department at Sharjah Municipality, said that consumer health is a priority for the civic body and it is following directives to intensify the supervision of food products’ trade in Sharjah. It includes field visits to food establishments, while continuing campaigns to enhance the emirate’s status as a healthy city.
Al Muhairi pointed out that during the campaigns, the inspectors ensure that the refrigerators continue to work at night. If any shop is found to have failed to ensure proper freezing of food items, the food stored will be confiscated and tough action taken against the owner, he added.
Al Muhairi urged consumers that while buying frozen products, they must ensure that they are properly stored in refrigerators and freezers, and then keep them at the right temperatures in the house.
339 inspection campaigns
A total of 339 intensive inspection campaigns to monitor food facilities were conducted in the first quarter of 2019. The drive covered restaurants, cafeterias, bakeries, confectioneries, grocery stores, retail centers, shopping centers, food stores, supermarkets and markets.
The Department of Public Services and Environment represented by the Public Health Department carried out the inspections. The campaigns resulted in warning to 81 food outlets while 15 shops were fined for violating the health requirements.
A top official at the Fujairah Municipality said the civic body has completed all preparations for the holy month of Ramadan and developed a plan of action that will cover all parts of the emirate.
Campaign to check violations
The Ajman Municipality has launched an inspection campaign targeting food outlets as well as production and importing companies to prevent flouting of health and hygiene standards to ensure food safety during the holy month.
A municipality official said: “The drive includes intensifying surprise and regular visits to all food establishments operating in the emirate to keep tabs on them.”
Khalid Al Hosani, director of Health and Environment Department at Ajman Municipality, said that the civic body ensures tightening of control over food establishments.
He added that the campaigns organised by the municipality aimed at checking if food outlets were adhering to health safety norms.
If any shop is found to have failed to ensure proper freezing of food items, the food will be confiscated.”
Omar Al Muhairi, head of Food Control Department, Sharjah Municipality