Dubai: Dubai Municipality is debunking rumours circulating on social media claiming that cheese spreads are carcinogenic and contain toxic substances.
Khaled Al Sharif Al Awadhi, Executive Director of the Food Control Department at Dubai Municipality, said there are no impurities or carcinogenic substances in any of the cheese-spread foods in circulation in the emirate.
Explaining that any foods in the market passes through multiple tests and analysis to ensure it is free of any products that can pose a health risk or any carcinogens, to adhere to international food control standards.
The tests also ensure the products do not contain pork products or illegal substances.
The latest rumour about spreadable cheese, he said, was that it has been banned in western countries, and Kuwait. The rumours also claimed pregnant mothers should not eat this cheese, as it was as bad as drinking alcohol during pregnancy and that this cheese is made out of “milk refuse or scum”.
“There is no such thing as milk scum or refuse, this is the first time we have ever heard of such a term,” he said, adding they had not received any notice that this cheese had been banned in Kuwait or any other country.
Al Awadhi urged the public not to believe everything they read on social media or on the internet about the food in the market, as most of the information is misleading and sometimes rumours are spread by competitors to drive their competition’s sales down.
He added that all foods that enter the city undergo microbiological, chemical and radiological tests by the Food and Environment Laboratory at the Dubai Central Laboratory.
He said the municipality spares no effort in ensuring the public’s health and protects the public from any risks, devoting a large number of inspectors in all areas concerning the protection of public health.
Dubai Municipality follows scientific guidelines set by international institutions and bodies directly concerned with this matter, such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), The Gulf Food Standards Authourity and Codex Alimentarius.
“People should contact the food control department with similar concerns before spreading these rumours. People can call 800900 for such enquiries,” Al Awadhi said.
