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The Sharjah Municipality has shut down 34 food outlets for health violation and destroyed 4,636 tonnes of food items found to be unfit for human consumption during 49,528 inspection campaigns in 2015.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Shaikh Rasha Al Qasim, Director of Health Department at Sharjah Municipality said the municipality has tightened its control over food markets to ensure they are following health and hygiene regulations.
She added that inspections are being carried out daily and periodically in all restaurants, cafeterias, groceries, supermarket and public kitchens, bakeries, spices shops, honey shops, fish market, dates stalls and fruits market to ensure health food products.
Municipality inspectors also inspect vehicles transporting food to ensure hygiene and to check if they are equipped with proper cooling system. Inspectors also carried out intensified inspections in schools to ensure that food provided in canteens is safe for consumption.
Dr. Shaikha Rashid stressed that food safety programmes introduced by the civic body for food companies have contributed to the maintainance of health standards.
She pointed out that food markets are being expanded in the emirate as the municipality has approved licences for a number of new food establishments and warehouses after they met with the required conditions.
Shaikha Shaza Al Mualla, head of the public health section, said the large number of the inspections is an indication that efforts are being made by the health department aimed at protecting the health of consumers.
She pointed out that the municipality will not tolerate violations that would, in any way, affect the health of people.
In summer inspections targeted groceries and food outlets to check if electricity was being cut at night resulting in food in the frozen section getting spoiled.
Out of 754 outlets, 30 shops were found to be disconnecting power.
In addition to this five public kitchens were fined for lack of hygiene and cleanliness.
Following complaints from residents regarding lack for hygiene, the municipality food laboratory withdrew 176 food samples and 169 water samples from schools to ensure validity and quality.
Al Mualla stressed that the municipality first issues warnings against errant outlets and then fines them based on the gravity of the violation. If the outlets continue the violations, they will face closure.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com
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