Dubai Municipality launches food donation initative

Dubai: Dubai Municipality launched ‘Heafz Al Na’amah’, a food donation initiative where excess food from large banquets and buffets, whether from hotels, weddings or homes, will be packaged and delivered to the less fortunate.

The initiative, which was launched during Gulf Food 2016, will regulate the process of collecting, packaging and distributing excess food — that would otherwise go to waste — to needy families and individuals as part of social solidarity, Hussain Nasser Lootah, director- general of Dubai Municipality, said.

Other beneficiaries include labourers and workers and the public during Ramadan in iftar tents.

This will be carried out by charities and hotels that will be authorised and supervised by the municipality’s Food Control Department.

Four charities and four hotel entities signed a partnership agreement with Dubai Municiplaity — Emirates Red Crescent, Royati Family Society, Tarahum Charity Foundation, Al Maktoum Foundation, Armani Hotel, Dubai World Trade Centre, Al Bustan and Murooj Rotana Group and Madinat Jumeirah Hotel Group.

The launch was attended by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.

Under the agreement, the charities will transport the food from the hotels using refrigerated vehicles and distribute them in accordance with the requirements and standards of health and safety issued by the municipality.

Hotels will provide charities with a schedule of events that they expect to result in food surplus, and package and store the food in accordance with the requirements and standards of health and safety issued by the municipality.

Hotels will also provide the municipality with quarterly reports, which will include the number of meals distributed, names of the charity organisations they contacted and an evaluation of the charities’ response to them.

The public will be able to donate this food, whether it is ready-to-eat or packaged, with the exception of expired food and non-halah foods, such as pork meat and products and alcohol.

In addition to providing food for the needy, the initiative will also reduce the amount of waste, which is good for the environment.