UAE bans rock melons from Australia

Listeria-contaminated Australian rock melons have been withdrawn from the UAE markets. 

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has ordered withdrawal and removal of the Australian rock melons from the UAE markets.
The move is in line with the Ministerial Decree no. 433 for 2017 on Rapid Alert System for Food, according to a top official.
Majd Al Herbawi, Food Safety Director at MOCCAE, said the decision comes in the wake of the recently reported cases of listeria-contaminated Australian rock melons in international media. The contamination has resulted in three casualties so far.  
"The Ministry has been closely following the updates of the outbreak."
The decision underscores the Ministry's commitment of protecting food safety and safeguarding consumers from adulterated and misbranded foods, in coordination with relevant authorities in the UAE, she added.
"The Ministry, along with Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and municipal authorities in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, is monitoring the markets to ensure the sound implementation of the decision."
The Ministry has directed food safety regulatory authorities at UAE entry points to deny the entry of rock melon shipments coming from Australia unless they are declared contamination free, she stated.
"UAE consumers are urged not to consume and return any Australian rock melons that are subject to the recall." 
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com