DM, DHA to uncover details of food safety

Khalid Sharif Al Awadi, Director of Food Control Department while announcing this said that the joint venture is the first of its kind in the state and contribute to finding all cases of transmitted food poisoning and diseases.

“Changing technologies, rapidly emerging and virulent pathogens, as well as globalization of the food supply present new and unique challenges to maintaining a safe food supply and protecting the consumer. With the increasing movement of food across the globe, foodborne pathogens also got spread,” he said

“The outbreak of a highly virulent strain of E. Coli 0104: H4 linked to fenugreek sprouts in 2011 is a classic example of how the pathogens have emerged and how widespread and damaging foodborne diseases can be to countries that consume the contaminated food product as well as those that produce the food,” he added.

Bobby Krishna, Senior Food Studies and Surveys Officer, said the disease surveillance system links hospitals to the food control system. With the disease surveillance system in place, hospitals are able to provide real time reports on suspected foodborne illnesses to the Food Control Department. Investigations are conducted by the department based on these reports.

“Early detection of foodborne disease outbreaks is the key to controlling the spread of diseases - the earlier we detect an outbreak, the lesser will be the number of people who get sick. Such surveillance also provides the Food Control Department with the basis for developing, implementing, and evaluating control policies that will lead to reduced rate of illnesses,” he stated.