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144 warehouses storing foodstuff fined in Dubai

DUBAI — An inspection campaign in the warehouses storing foodstuff in Dubai revealed that seven per cent of them were not complying with the hygienic requirements, the Dubai Municipality said on Tuesday.

A total of 144 warehouses were fined during the campaign conducted by the Food Control Section of the municipality, said a press release.

Held during the beginning of the summer months, the campaign was designed to ensure safety of food traded in the emirate before they reach the consumer.

Sultan Al Tahir, Head of the Product Control Section in the Food Control Department, said the campaign covered 257 warehouses that include store dry, chilled and frozen food items.

“The campaign, which resulted in issuing fines for 144 establishments, stressed on all stores the need to adhere to the approved hygiene requirements of the municipality,” he said.

Tahir noted that during the campaign, most of the warehouses received good assessment.

“However, 18 warehouses that received the medium and weak assessment marks were found to be not complying with the existing hygiene requirements of the municipality. They were instructed to comply with the requirements and the need to modify their status.”

Tahir said the prominent violations in those institutions were the accumulation of storage and the lack of proper ventilation system while storing foods.

He said good conservation of food depends on knowing the appropriate conditions for the storage of each type of food to protect them from contamination. “Hence, the section formed a team for conducting the inspection campaign in the warehouses last month to make sure they are complying with the requirements for proper storage of food, which may get damaged due to negligence during this season because of the high humidity and temperature, which allow the growth and reproduction of microbes,” said Tahir.

He said controlling the temperature level is the most effective way to reduce the risk of microbes and preventing them from multiplying and destroying foodstuffs during storage.

“So you must store the food in temperatures that are suitable for them, whether they are refrigerated, frozen or dry food.” — news@khaleejtimes.com