UAE | Crime
Four people arrested for selling unsafe honey and banned eggs
Health authorities have seized more than 15,000kg of honey stored in unhygienic conditions and banned eggs in raids at two residential buildings.
- By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:39 February 28, 2008
- Around 90,000 eggs were repackaged in 3,000 trays and some even sent to groceries.
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
Al Ain: Health authorities have seized more than 15,000kg of honey stored in unhygienic conditions and banned eggs in raids at two residential buildings.
Four persons have been arrested and police have launched an investigation into the cases, said a senior official of Al Ain branch of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA).
Ahmad Balikaila Al Ameri, head of ADFCA's Al Ain Branch, said the honey was stored in and bottled with unhygienic equipment. One person has been arrested in the case.
Consumer complaint
He said a consumer had called the authority, saying he had purchased a bottle of honey that carried no label on it. ADFCA started an investigation and identified the house where the honey was stored.
A team of officials later raided the house and confiscated 578 containers, carrying 15,740kg of honey, and the equipment used for the packaging. The honey was imported from an Asian country.
Al Ameri said the unhygienic conditions and the method of repacking were a threat to public health. In the second raid, ADFCA officials confiscated banned eggs from a house.
The people involved in the case were reportedly changing the marks on the eggs and repacking them to match eggs imported from a Gulf country.
Around 90,000 eggs were illegally imported from an Asian country, currently banned by the UAE under the threat of bird flu. The eggs were packed in 3,000 trays and 250 cartons, said the official.
Al Ameri said some of the eggs were already distributed to local shops but the authority had taken them off the shelves.
Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Manager of Communication and Information Department of ADFCA, said the ADFCA official had obtained permission from the authorities to enter both houses.
Cooperation
He said four people have been arrested in connection with the two cases and more arrests are expected during the investigation.
Al Reyaysa said people should cooperate with the authority and inform it about any sub-standard food item in the market.
"We at ADFCA are vigilant and taking measures to ensure food safety," he said.
ADFCA, established in February 2005, aims at ensuring the safety and quality of food. It is also responsible for food legislation in Abu Dhabi for the protection of consumers' health and safety.
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