Abu Dhabi: While checking the fish at Madinath Zayed fish market, the inspector's trained eyes noticed there was something fishy going on. On closer scrutiny, he ordered immediate removal of around 11 kg of fish.
"These are not rotten... But they are from old stock and if kept for one more day they will begin to decompose," said one of the inspectors from Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) during an inspection campaign in the Western Region yesterday, the eighth by the agency this year.
The inspectors visited several food outlets — butcheries, traditional kitchens, restaurants, a fish market, and fruit and vegetable shops — in Madinath Zayed city in the presence of journalists. Of a total of 27 outlets, 14 were found to be in full compliance. Around 13 warnings were issued while 25kg of food was ordered to be destroyed. The fish vendors defended themselves saying it was by mistake that such fish had remained on the shelves. "There is no way we can evade the inspectors and we are usually careful," said Shams Al Deen, one vendor.
The inspectors said they had placed a limit on the quantity of fish which could be stocked in the market. "It is to ensure the availability of fresh fish in the market," an inspector said.
Rashed Nasser Al Yafai, the manager of the field inspection section in the western region said that 90 per cent of the food outlets in the region [including the fish market] complied with the rules.
Those who don't comply with the standards and specifications would be blacklisted, he said. From next month (November) onwards all food outlets could get their licences renewed without mandatory inspections, unless they had been blacklisted, Al Yafai said.
