Sharjah food safety training now in Malayalam, sign language

In training workers on the proper handling of food, the Sharjah Municipality made sure that its food safety programme was delivered in a language everyone understood. Aside from Arabic, English, Urdu and Hindi, this year's training was also conducted in Malayalam, sign language, and with a lot of visual aids.
The Sharjah Food Safety Programme (SFSP) is the first of its kind in the region and since its launch in 2009, a significant drop in food safety violations has been recorded, Maha Al Mullah, director of the SFSP told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the third Sharjah Food Safety Forum on Tuesday (February 26).
Everyone involved in handling food, including food manufacturing employees, business owners, restaurant workers, housemaids, and catering staff members, has been taking part in the SFSP.
Omar Al Muhairi, director of food safety control at the Sharjah Municipality, said they had conducted a survey and a number of studies to understand the demographics of the workers who are handling food in the emirate.
Then, they were able to determine the languages and communication methods that would work best for the programme, he said.
Last year, 50,000 trainees were registered in the system of good health practices, and 43,000 of them passed the test. Out of over 6,600 food businesses in the emirate, 4,800 establishments applied for the SFSP, Al Muhairi said.
Training for determined ones
Proving that the food industry in Sharjah is for everyone, the Sharjah Municipality also launched an initiative to encourage people of determination to put up their own food outlets.
To prepare them for such business ideas, the municipality introduced them to food safety by using sign languages and instructional photos and videos.
Sheikha Shaza Al Mualla, assistant director-general of the Public Health and Central Laboratories, said the municipality also introduced a social solidarity initiative to support the food projects of people of determination.
Projects like these are aimed at getting the determined ones involved in community activities, she said.
Hailed for food safety practices
Tuesday's forum was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi and Mariam bint Mohammed Al Mehairi, Minister of State for Food Security, among other officials. They all hailed the efforts of the municipality in bolstering the reputation of the emirate as a leading destination for safe, healthy food.
Thabit Salim Al Taraifi, director-general of the Sharjah Municipality, said that the emirate has earned its title as a healthy city mainly because of the municipality's tight supervision of all food outlets, combined with the cooperation of the community.
The food control centre also played a vital role in ensuring that safety standards are followed across the emirate, Al Taraifi said. On top of that, food testing laboratories are equipped with the latest equipment, he added. 
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah