UAE | Health
Public and authorities must unite to prevent food poisoning
More transparency between the public and the authorities is essential to prevent misinformation on food safety, says a leading food safety specialist.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:27 February 27, 2008
Dubai: More transparency between the public and the authorities is essential to prevent misinformation on food safety, says a leading food safety specialist.
Dr Aisha Abu Shelaibi, assistant dean at the College of Food and Agriculture at UAE University, said a lack of consumer knowledge, a sensationalist and uninformed media and untrained food handlers were the main issues affecting food safety in the UAE.
|She was speaking at the Dubai International Food Safety Conference.
However, she said the problems would not be solved without the authorities' cooperation, which she hoped would have a domino effect on other factors.
"A chain links [the consumer, media, food authorities and food handlers] to each other," she said.
"We have enough experts but they are not given a chance to participate. We have to delegate some responsibility to each person ... to talk to the media."
She said this way, authorities would be able to make sure information provided to the public was accurate.
"And if it is wrong, they have to speak up immediately or the wrong information will continue," she added.
The media, in turn, has the responsibility to not only publish the correct information, but also to simplify the terms to the public. They must also make sure the information they receive is from authoritative figures who are experts in the field, and not officials who are not involved in or aware of the issue.
Dr Aisha said cooperation would help educate the public about food safety and hygiene, which in turn would make them demand higher standards from food producers and handlers.
"Lack of knowledge leads to outbreaks. If they are not washing their hands, then they are contaminating food," she said.
"Consumers also have to be tough and stand up for their rights. Finding cockroaches and hair in food is very bad," and must be reported, she added.
"Nothing is 100 percent safe, but we need to reach the maximum level of safety," she added.
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