There is something ‘rotten’ at Dubai’s meat, fish outlets

DUBAI — Nearly ninety per cent of meat and fish shops inspected by Dubai Municipality in the first three months of the year have been warned over violations, while the rest of them have been fined, with at least one being closed down due to poor hygiene, the civic body announced on Sunday.

A statement issued by the municipality said the Animal Products Monitoring Section of its Food Control Department carried out inspections at 132 establishments representing 88 per cent of the total shops selling meat, fish and animal products. They include the major fish markets and butcheries — independent and associated with other outlets like shopping centres and hypermarkets.

According to Adnan Al Jallaf, the head of the Section, 114 shops, which represented 86 per cent of the total shops, were “warned for different infractions.” Thirteen shops which accounted for 10 per cent of the outlets, have been fined during the campaign, while one shop was (temporarily) closed because of poor hygiene, said Al Jallaf.

“The most important violation observed was the low-level personal hygiene of staff and general maintenance of shop. Owners were directed to correct the breaches and were told that the actions will be pursued until the problem is solved,” the official said.

The civic body said another campaign was conducted in the second quarter of the year, targeting food warehouses in different parts of the emirate.

“This involved 137 warehouses, of which 110 entities were warned for some minor and general offences, while 27 enterprises were fined,” said the statement.

“The campaign at this time (of the year) is to coincide with the start of the summer season and rise in temperature and (subsequent increase in the presence) of insects and rodents which require taking additional precautions to reduce their impact on the safety of food products. It also aims at safe handling of food in various stages of trading — starting from the arrival at ports to the display case,” said Al Jallaf.

Last year, Dubai Municipality had destroyed 245 tonnes of fish, vegetables and fruits unfit for consumption during a rigorous surprise inspection campaign launched in the summer.

Sultan Ali Tahir, the official who headed the campaign, had told Khaleej Times that 214 violations were recorded after the inspections in 554 establishments, including fish, meat, vegetable and fruit stalls, and shops selling foodstuffs, at the markets in Deira, Shindagha and Karama.

— sajila@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE