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Campaign on safe food packaging launched

DUBAI — Dubai is bringing in a code of practice for safe food packaging at eateries and school canteens, officials said after launching a four-month awareness campaign titled, ‘Pack It Safe, Right Step for Safe Food.’

Food packaging norms in eateries, especially small outlets like restaurants, cafeterias and catering outlets, and school canteens will come under the scanner as Dubai Municipality, which launched the food safety campaign, focuses more on materials and methods of food packaging.

“Our laws already cover food storage regulations. There are clear rules about food transportation also. We are working according to our strategy and placing focus on food packaging materials and methods,” said Khalid Mohammed Sherif Al Awadhi, Director of Food Control Department at Dubai Municipality. Noting that food packaging plays an important role in ensuring food safety, he said inappropriate use of storage materials can cause food spoilage and food poisoning. The campaign attempts to educate parents, children and food handlers on safe packaging of food.

“Through this campaign, we are trying to educate everyone about the right types of packaging materials and their right uses. We have a code of practice (in food packaging) and (related) techniques have to be explained to people,” he told Khaleej Times after the launch of the campaign.

The official said instructions have been given to inspectors to revise their checklists on food storage.

Assistant Director General for Health, Safety and Environment Monitoring Sector Salem bin Mesmar said though the campaign would eventually lead to certain new regulations on food packaging, what was more important in current times was awareness about safe food packaging practices.

Asia Abdulwahab Alraeesi, who heads the Food Studies and Planning at the Food Control Department, said the campaign will run a series of awareness programmes and workshops in schools, women’s associations, malls and other public places till October. “We will distribute thousands of brochures explaining safe packaging tips. There will be some special sessions during Ramadan,” she said.

The workshops will explain how each type of food packaging material interacts with the food or beverage, be it while storing, freezing or heating.

The civic body has tied up with Al Bayader International, a leading manufacturer of food storage materials, to provide practical and theoretical knowledge about food packaging.

In 2009, the Food Control Department conducted a series of programmes aimed at improving the food safety awareness of the community, with special focus on housewives after it was revealed that many food poisoning cases reported that year were caused by homemade food.

sajila@khaleejtimes.com