UAE | Health

Food outlets in Dubai safeguard themselves

Hotels and restaurants in Dubai are playing it safe on the issue of food hygiene by asking customers to sign disclaimer notes when they order takeaways.

  • By Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 22:31 July 30, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • The management of Calicut Paragon restaurant in Karama has issued warning stickers informing customers to consume takeaway food bought from the establishment within two hours of purchase.
  • Image Credit: Francois Nel/Gulf News

Dubai: Hotels and restaurants in Dubai are playing it safe on the issue of food hygiene by asking their customers to sign disclaimer notes when they order takeaways.

Hotel Kempinski in Mall of the Emirates is getting its customers to sign a disclaimer note stating that its restaurants would not be responsible for the quality of food once it is taken out of their premises.

The new stipulation was introduced in the last three weeks after the much-publicised suspected food-poisoning case that claimed the lives of two children in Dubai.

Nathan, 5, and his sister, Chelsea, 7, died soon after they ate food ordered from a Chinese restaurant.

"Please note that the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates takes no responsibility whatsoever for any food or beverage bought from the hotel or any outlets of the hotel for personal consumption.

"This is due to the fact that the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates has no more control or any way of ascertaining the safety and hygienic condition of this food and beverage once outside the premises. Please sign the waiver below to indicate your acceptance of the terms stipulated.

"Otherwise the hotel is unable to permit any food or beverage to be purchased," the disclaimer reads.

The name, address, contact details of customers along with the time of the purchase are also noted down on the waiver note.

Tony Hartono, supervisor at Sezzam, one of the outlets in Kempinski said: "We follow strict hygiene standards while preparing safethe food. But many customers pack the leftover food and once they take it outside the restaurant.

"We do not know how they treat the food and when they are going to consume it. So the disclaimer note will ensure that the restaurant is not responsible if there [is] an incident of food poisoning," Hartono said.

Another restaurant, Calicut Paragon in Karama, has also followed suit. However, instead of having disclaimer notes, the popular south Indian outlet in Karama has put a sticker on parcel bags advising customers to consume the food within two hours of purchase.

"We know for a fact that many people take the parcels and keep it refrigerated and eat it the next day.

"Chances are there the food can get contaminated and lead to food poisoning. So from our side, we are taking a small precaution to avoid such mishaps," said Silji Varghese, the manager of Calicut Paragon.

He said that people often misused their goodwill.

"For instance, last week one lady took two biriyani parcels at around 2.30 in the afternoon and came back with one packet at around 10pm, complaining of contamination. Without any arguments, I reimbursed the cash though we sold more than 600 biriyanis that particular day," Varghese said.

Though many restaurants maintain that is a good idea to hold the customers accountable for food safety, some maintained that the onus ultimately lies on the outlet itself.

"I think it is completely unethical to make customers sign disclaimers like that. It is good to safeguard the business, but not at the cost of displeasing customers," said Ronald D'Souza, operations manager at Sofra Worldwide - a firm that owns restaurant chains like Gelato, NaanPlus and Uno Chicago Grill.

"From your side, you have to ensure that quality and hygiene standards are maintained at the highest levels. But as we are in the business of food, there is an element of risk, that you must take," D'Souza said.

Are you concerned about taking away leftovers from restaurants? Will this move help reduce incidents of food poisoning? Do you think this scheme will create awareness regarding food safety amongst customers at restaurants?


Your comments


Glad that such a disclaimar note is introduced. Atlast people are waking up.. this pratice needs to be followed in all the restaurants and hotels . It might look weird but at the same time its pratical and there would be a proof. once a signature is taking the restaurant wont be responsible as the food will be taken out by the customers. its just a matter of being pro active rather then being re active. I would also appreciate if the municipality can have monthly checks and inspections at all restaurants.
Mathew litty
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 16:40

It is a way to throw the onus solely on the consumer and to absolve the real culprit. I hope people wisen up and start cooking at home and boycott such outlets once and for all. How many more people must die before such restaurants are taught a good lesson???
Tom Braine
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 15:30

I do agree with Mr.Bobby's comments.. Calicut paragon is doing a good thing It's just an information/Instruction same as like the Keep Chilled or Keep Frozen instruction on most of the food labels, which is to be strictly followed by the customer in order to be safe. Nothing to blame in it.
Subhash
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 15:19

Hotels, by asking customers to sign in disclaimer notes are trying to escape from responsibility of the food they make. I would refuse to sign such a note. Displaying stickers to consume food within two hours of purchase though is a practical move. All restaurants must be checked once for cleanliness of staff, method of preparing food and storing methods. As customers we must try to eat take away food within an hour of purchase especially during the summer. It is always best to cook simple food freshly at home. When it is not possible to cook, we must check out the best restaurants and eat the food right there. In cases of take away, leftover food must be either given away or disposed and not stored in the fridge for another meal. Even food cooked in the house must be stored in the fridge after it cools down and only the required amount must be reheated. Awareness about storing food, hygiene and methods of cooking must be increased. Hotels not following hygienic methods and standards must be closed down immediately.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 13:50

Disclaimers, warning labels on bags, some other stuff is just not enough. Personal Hygiene of employees at the outlets needs to be stressed upon by managements of these food outlets/cafes/restaurants. I've seen employees of these outlets use restrooms and just walk right back to packing food! Where? In one of the rest areas between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is a good move to place stickers on carry out bags to educate customers but the educatoion needs to begin in their kitchens. What kind of training are these employees given? Where are the hair nets? Do these employees get their hands checked on a daily basis for dirt in their nails? These are the realities of life! Their training at a minimum should include refreshers on personal hygiene on a weekly basis.
Babloo Ramisetty
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 12:04

I think the food outlets and restaurants are taking the health and hygene of humans for a joke, I want to see any of these so called hotels etc behave in this way in europe or the US. The gov must seriously take this cases into tougher actions, personally I stop ordering or eating out at restaurants.
Peter
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 11:19

This is not a good move and at more disadvantage to the consumers. What is the guarantee then,that food is perfect and absolutely hygiene. Restaurants can misuse this rule which is biased to restaurants. Then what about foods sold from gorceries?
Mushtaq
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 11:02

What a shame! How can they make customers sign for something which the customers don't know how it has been prepared or have all the health precautions been adhered to during the process of preperation. Dubai Economic Department Customer Complaints Section must take note of this and take businesses involved in such unethical and rotten practices to task.
Aryanku
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 10:47

I absolutely disagree of signing the waiver since we realy don't know what exactly is the quality of the take out food and dine in food, might be the take out food are those left overs?
Lolon
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 10:15

I still have no doubt that restaurants here in Dubai is "safe". I also understand not all but regardless of wherever the food came from once it is taken out and expose to contaminants then it will turn awful.
Jhel Villaruel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 09:49

I don't think a disclaimer should be sufficient enough in case of contamination. Surely the authorities will look into any particular case in depth. I agree that a sticker may be a good reminder to people to consume or keep food in certain ways to avoid problems.
Iris
Coffs Harbour,Australia
Posted: July 31, 2009, 09:33

If you cannot stand the heat; get out of the kitchen! You cannot have it both ways!
Bob Satwa
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 08:26

A month ago I went to buy food from a restaurant but the man who worked there was picking his nose so I changed my mind. Then in food court a lady working with food sneezed without tissue and wiped nose with her hands and did not wash after. This has all got to stop don't you agree?
Mrs. Precious Schulze
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 07:39

What Calicut Paragon is doing is perfectly alright. I have seen the message and it doesn't sound like any kind of disclaimer. It is a food safety message popularly used by many food outlets around the world. It is a quick reminder to the customer to consume the food as soon as possible. Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality is currently encouraging more and more food outlets to put such messages along with take away food to ensure that the customer handles the food properly.
Bobby Krishna
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 31, 2009, 00:52

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