Restaurants fined Dh15,000 over rotten meat

Food is often sold by mobile vendors like these in industrial areas near labour accommodations - Supplied photo

The inspection team of the Sharjah Municipality seized two trucks selling rotten and expired fish, meat and chicken to restaurants in industrial areas. The municipality inspectors also fined three restaurants Dh15,000 each for buying and cooking the rotten meat, putting consumer's health in danger.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ibrahim Al Rayees, Director of Inspection Department, said the municipality intensifies its inspections during summer to check on improper storage of food in outlets and mobile food venders who sell expired food products to labourers in industrial areas at a cheap price.
He said several vehicles are seen making rounds in industrial areas trying to sell expired meat items to restaurants and mobile vendors for cheap prices. These vendors allegedly cook food using these expired products and sell them to workers at low rates. They also collect expired and almost expired foodstuff from supermarkets and other food outlets for free or for very little money, and reselling them to people living in and around labour accommodations in industrial areas.
The inspection team recently confiscated and destroyed more than six tonnes of expired meat, fish, chicken, fruits and vegetables found unfit for consumption.
Mohammed Al Kaabi, Head of the Inspection Section of Sharjah Municipality, said his section has received several complaints from people about food vendors who come out on Fridays. In response, the municipality carried out several inspections targeting these vendors and their products. The municipality was also notified of a number of food poisoning cases among workers who were duped by these unscrupulous vendors.
The municipality coordinates with the police department to bust mobile vendors in industrial and residential areas particularly on weekends. The inspection team also found that food was not stored the required temperature in cafeterias and groceries. Al Kabbi explained the mobile vendors who are mostly illegals, do not understand at what temperatures the various kinds of food need to be stored. This could lead to food poisoning.
He urged residents of industrial areas to call 993 to report any such illegal practice.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Sharjah

Afkar Ali Ahmed

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com