AR
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Dubai Municipality will be conducting intensive inspection campaigns in foodstuff establishments across the emirate during the holy month of Ramadan. These inspections are aimed at enhancing the health and safety measures of the most commonly traded foods. The inspection team will also oversee that all food establishments and their customers are complying with health protocols and precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all stakeholders.
Sultan Al Taher, Director of Food Safety Department in Dubai Municipality, noted that the inspectors will ensure that all safety requirements related to transporting, storing, preparing and displaying foodstuffs and products are followed by all establishments across the emirate.
Al Taher added that inspection campaigns are already being conducted in food warehouses across Dubai before the start of the holy month to ensure that the products that are frequently traded during Ramadan are in compliance with food safety standards.
He affirmed that there will be continuous periodic campaigns starting from the first day of the holy month on sales outlets, including shopping centres and consumer complexes to ensure that these establishments are adhering to the Municipality's health requirements.
In addition, another campaign will be organised in markets such as the Central Fruits and Vegetables Market and the Waterfront Market, which witness a surge in consumer shopping during the holy month.
"This campaign will ensure the safety of fresh products that are usually perishable. The inspectors will check non-compliance with their display, storage and circulation, in accordance with the food safety requirements," added Al Taher.
In order to ensure the success of these inspections, specialised teams of Dubai Municipality have completed necessary preparations to intensify visits and assessment of establishments that will be preparing meals. This has come in view of an expected surge in the consumption of fried food items during Ramadan.
During the inspection, the team will focus on the quality of oils used and will ensure the safety of places of storage and preparation, cooking methods as well as preparation and transportation techniques. Inspectors are also focused on ensuring that workers comply with personal hygiene and all safety standards while offering the food to customers.
"We will focus on the process of preparation and the thermal control of food as well as food transport vehicles, and ensure compliance with our technical conditions and specifications," he added.
Various inspection teams have been directed to focus on different food establishments, especially popular kitchens and bakeries to ensure that best health and safety practices are applied during preparation, cooking, storage, display and transportation of food items.
At the same time, establishments seeking to display their products outside are required to obtain a prior permit from the Food Safety Department.
"They can display food items only two hours before Iftar, and the food establishment must adhere to thermal preservation, and that the food item must be preserved at more than 65 degrees in order to prevent any bacterial activity," Al Taher pointed out.
SOURCE: Khaleej Times