UAE: Filthy food companies given fines
Posted by Zawya
7Days
10 June 2010


FOOD warehouses in Dubai have been slapped with fines after health inspectors uncovered filthy, unfit storage conditions.

Staff from the Food Control Section at Dubai MunicipalityDubai Municipality
Dubai Municipality visited 257 warehouses used for the storage of either dry, chilled or frozen foodstuff.

They discovered seven per cent of those inspected has breached regulations and were not storing their food hygienically.
And after hearing the statistic medical professionals called for tighter rules and regulations over food storage.

Dr Suresh Menon, from Jebel Ali Hospital, said: "Food-related illnesses have gone up in the last five years. We are getting two to three cases every day."

He went on to add: "There should be a strict inspection of food outlets."

The news has come almost a year to the day that French siblings Nathan, five, and Chelsea D'Souza, seven, died after eating food from a Chinese restaurant in Dubai.

The D'Souzas were among four children in the UAE who died last summer from suspected food poisoning.

Sultan Al Tahir, the head of the Product Control Section in the Food Control Department, added: "The campaign, which resulted in issuing fines, stressed all the firms need to adhere to the strict hygiene requirements of the municipality."

By Fareed Rahman

© 7Days 2010

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