Checks on bakeries using newspaper wrappers

Dubai Municipality's Food Control Section has carried out a week-long inspection campaign to find bakeries that serve bread and other baked products wrapped in newspapers.

Khalid Shareef Al Awadhi, Assistant Director of the Public Health Department and Head of the Food Control Section at Dubai Municipality, said the campaign, which began on Saturday and lasted until yesterday, found that of the 162 bakeries inspected, 36, or 22 per cent, were not complying with health requirements in this regard.

"But we've noted that there is a five per cent rise in the compliance rates of bakeries in contrast to the previous campaigns, thanks to the presence of more food inspectors in each sector. Stringent measures taken against offenders are also yielding good results," said Al Awadhi.

He said it has been proved that printing ink poses grave health risks. Therefore, Al Awadhi said, newspapers or any other printed papers should not be used to wrap bread or other bakery products or other foods such as meat, fish and chicken.

He also advised the public not to spread newspaper on the dining table and place cooked food on it.

Dubai Municipality has called on all construction companies to clear roads surrounding their work sites of any temporary installations or equipment immediately on receiving a notice from public works contractors in the area.

Engineer Abdul Rahman Al Sharid, Director of the Building and Housing Department, said a circular to this effect was issued to all construction companies for the benefit of the public.

The municipality demands that an undertaking be signed by a construction company to clear all equipment and installations from the work site, before a permit is issued to the company.