Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority temporarily closed down 18 food outlets in the month of July for violating the food safety rules.
"About 15 food caterers and three warehouses were temporarily closed ahead of Ramadan as we intensified our food safety inspections," Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Public Relations and Communications at the authority, said.
He said the drive targeting food establishments throughout the emirate was to ensure that consumers were not put at risk ahead of the holy month.
As a result of an over-all improvement in standards, not even a single case of food poisoning was reported in the month of July, Al Reyaysa explained.
“We also found that food handlers in the outlets have improved their standards,” he added.
Out of a total of 1,783 inspection visits, targeting food caterers, retailers and warehouses, 67 violations were detected and 872 warnings issued.
“While these visits resulted in the closure of 18 food establishments, 15 caterers and three warehouses, they also saw the destruction of 8,084 tonnes of food unfit for human consumption,” Al Reyaysa said.
Inspectors also imposed fines on three categories of outlets - 553 on caterers; 311 on retailers and eight on warehouses, he said.
Stepping up the monitoring of outlets at the border crossings in Abu Dhabi resulted in the destruction of 35,215 kilogrammes of food, while another 77,629 kilogrammes were confiscated on the borders.
“Despite a marked improvement, we’re also aware that much more is needed,” the official said, adding that the inspectors found food outlets more eager to comply with the safety rules. People are obviously cooperating as they’re making an effort to report the violations, Al Reyaysa said.
