Dubai: The UAE authorities are taking all possible measures to ensure that no contaminated milk products are in the local market, following a botulism scare related to New Zealand diary products, officials told Gulf News on Monday.
The Ministry of Environment and Water has an effective mechanism to prevent any harmful or contaminated foods from entering the UAE, said Engineer Saif Al Shar’a, Assistant Undersecretary for Agricultural Affairs and Animal welfare and Chairman of the Committee for Food Safety at the ministry.
The ministry has already shared the alerts received from international agencies on New Zealand diary products with the local authorities and instructed them to withdraw or recover any contaminated products from the market, Al Shar’a said.
Such products will be destroyed or sent back to the country of origin, he said.
Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has stepped up inspections across the emirate to trace any contaminated milk products following instructions from the ministry and alerts from international agencies, said Mohammad Jalal Al Rayssi, the official spokesman of authority.
Meanwhile, Fonterra on Monday said that its branded consumer products in the UAE were not affected by the WPC80 quality issue announced by the Co-operative on August 3, 2013.
Alan Fitzsimmons, managing director of Fonterra Brands, Middle East and Africa, said: "All Fonterra branded products in the United Arab Emirates including Anchor, Anlene and Chesdale are 100 per cent safe for consumption."
