Blackberry users sign up for alerts on food safety

Abu Dhabi: A thousand Blackberry users in the capital signed up for regular alerts on food safety, agriculture and animal health on the day the information service was launched, said an official from the government department that manages the service, which is known as Zady.

The Zady Blackberry updates and alerts, which are sent by the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), provide advice, tips, and information about new ADFCA regulations, food safety and farming practices, said ADFCA's Director of Public Relations and Communications, Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa.

"We can now reach out to individuals in the community directly and this will allow people to make healthier food-related decisions. The service will also enable us to scotch rumours that are sometimes spread about food safety and agriculture," Al Reyaysa said.

The Zady initiative was launched on Monday and alerts are already available to the service subscribers. Other Blackberry users can register for it free of charge by SMS, email or Blackberry Messenger.

Al Reyaysa explained that Zady would especially benefit the emirate's agricultural community.

"It will help us enable the growth of a sustainable and profitable agriculture sector in the emirate," he said.

In response to whether subscribers could report food safety violations on the service or send in recommendations, Al Reyaysa said the service was not interactive. "But people can always call or email ADFCA with their any grievances or information," he added.

Imtiaz Taher, 24, a Blackberry user from Bangladesh, said he'd been unaware of the Zady service. "I would surely like to sign up for it because I eat out on a daily basis and knowing about what to eat and where to avoid eating would help me make healthier food choices," he said.

He also said that the service would be especially valuable to him if the alerts provided information about exotic foods or food safety in restaurants.

Praveen K. K. Manager of India Palace restaurant who does not own a Blackberry, said he would like to have access to updates. "For someone in my field, the information is very important. In fact, I'm willing to pay for a similar service if it were available to mobile phone users," he said.

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