4,300 food outlets fined for flouting rules

Releasing the Annual Report 2011 of the Food Control Section, Dr Rasha Ahmad Al Qasimi, Assistant Director-General for Health, Environment and Quality, said the municipality inspected 62,477 food establishments, including restaurants, cafeterias, supermarkets, groceries and 
public kitchens, in addition to stalls at the Fruits and Vegetable Market.

“As many as 4,321 establishments were fined for not adhering to the health and safety standards, and 1579 establishments were fined for commercial fraud,” said Dr Al Qasimi.

Explaining the procedures, she said random samples of food products are taken during inspections and tested at the municipality’s laboratory in case of any doubt.

“The inspections also included random visits to the Fish Market as well as the Fruits and Vegetable Market.” As many as 46 shops in the Fruits and Vegetable Market and 187 stalls in the Fish Market were fined for not adhering to the health and safety rules.

“As part of our campaign, we destroyed 1,468kg of vegetables and fruits because they were unfit for human consumption, and also disposed of 7,936kg of fish,” she said.

The municipality also inspected 502 new food establishments 
last year, which reflected the significant growth witnessed in the emirate.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE