Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has issued 41 warnings to fruit and vegetable shops in the Al Mina area of Abu Dhabi City following a surprise inspection campaign on Tuesday.
Although there was no serious violation of food safety and hygiene rules found, shopkeepers were indulging in some dubious practices, a senior official.
“Some of them were keeping the vegetables and fruits on the floor; they have to keep them on the shelves only,” Mohammad Jalal Al Rayssi, director of communication and community service at ADFCA, said.
Others were not keeping the premises clean up to hygiene standards, he said.
These were not serious problems, so they were issued with warnings. But if they are repeated again a ticket for a violation will be issued a third time, the official explained. Once a ticket for a violation is issued, it will be referred to the court that will decide the penalties including any fine, according to the food safety laws, Al Rayssi said. “We never issue on-the-spot tickets [for fines] to enable the shopkeepers to defend themselves in court,” he said.
The inspectors also destroyed 84.5 kilograms of food that were not fit for human consumption, the official said.
About 12 inspectors visited 86 shops and 30 of them were found complying with all the rules and regulations.
The official said they take special care at the Fruit and Vegetable Market because it supplies items to the entire city.
Asked whether shopkeepers had prior information about the inspections, considering the high compliance rate, Al Rayssi, said: “No one can get away with stage managed compliance. The inspectors are experienced enough to detect whether shopkeepers have arranged anything or are just showing off,” he explained.
He said inspectors also look at the storerooms carefully. An inspector said the temperature in store rooms keeping fruit and vegetables have to maintain 15 degree Celsius. “All items should be kept on metal shelves in the store rooms also,” he explained.
