44 food outlets temporarily closed in Dubai

Dubai: As many as 44 food outlets in Dubai were temporarily closed down this year for violating a number of hygiene requirements.

Sultan Ali Al Tahir, Head of Food Inspection Section at Dubai Municipality, said: “[We] closed down the food outlets temporarily due to their high-risk violations. The municipality allowed a large number of them to re-start the work after meeting the technical specifications and hygiene requirements and fully complying with the food safety rules and regulations of the municipality,” he said. 

Al Tahir said that during first quarter of 2018, inspection teams carried out 5,365 routine visits to ensure that food outlets comply with Dubai’s food safety rules and regulations. 

“Many follow-up visits were also carried out by the section to focus on the low-ranking establishments in order to raise their technical and hygienic standards. We conducted 637 such follow up visits during the first quarter of 2018, in addition to 577 random visits,” he said.

Al Tahir said that during first quarter of 2018, inspection teams carried out 5,365 routine visits to ensure that food outlets comply with Dubai’s food safety rules and regulations. 

“Many follow-up visits were also carried out by the section to focus on the low-ranking establishments in order to raise their technical and hygienic standards. We conducted 637 such follow up visits during the first quarter of 2018, in addition to 577 random visits,” he said.

“The inspectors conducted these random visits without preparing any schedule in advance while they were present in the inspection areas, and when they noticed any irregularities in the food establishments that may affect public health,” said Al Tahir.

“Enhancing public confidence in food safety is part of our plans to achieve the strategic objective of food safety management, which is evident in our outstanding achievements,” he said.

During the inspection campaign carried out so far this year, 975 high-risk food establishments in hotels and large restaurants received ratings of A+ and A. 

Sultan Ali Al Tahir, Head of Food Inspection Section said that these high-risk establishments, which represented hotels and big restaurants with large quantities of food preparation, performed crossing all the expectations. 

Toll-free number

Dubai Municipality urged the public to report any violations in food outlets by using the toll-free number 800900, which is open 24 hours a day.