Dubai: The Food Safety Department of Dubai Municipality is stepping up inspections in the emirate’s foodstuff establishments ahead of Eid Al Adha to protect public health.

Sultan Al Tahir, director of the food inspection section, said on Tuesday that inspectors will focus efforts round the clock on food establishments, especially sweet shops, toasters, bakeries, sweets and chocolate factories, as well as traditional kitchens.

“Our inspectors will make sure that these establishments adhere to best practices during the preparation, storage, supply and transport of the foodstuffs as these best practices can prevent contamination of the products, especially the process of cross-contamination with workers and equipment,” he said.

Al Tahir stressed that employees of food establishments must adhere to highest standards of personal hygiene while handling food.

Inspectors will ensure standards are being met or exceeded regarding preparation, manufacturing and maintaining the right temperature, as well as protecting food from external pollutants.

“In addition, we will be ensuring that the food establishments are adhering to the requirements of transporting, storing, preparing and displaying products and foodstuffs by conducting the inspection tours for this purpose in an organised way, as well as by focusing on hygiene awareness and education for employees of various food establishments. We will also ensure that they implement the best hygiene practices, keep the place clean, wear gloves and hairnets, and instruct health supervisors in food establishments to oversee all food safety operations,” said Al Tahir.

A circular has been sent to all butchers operating in the emirate informing them not to slaughter sacrificial animals for the public as it should only be carried out by Dubai Municipality’s abattoirs and all butcheries have been instructed to abide by the circular issued in this regard.

“Immediately after the Eid prayer, our inspection teams will start a comprehensive inspection campaign at all butcheries in the emirate” to ensure that they are not slaughtering sacrificial animals there, added Al Tahir.

“They will do follow-up field visits to food establishments by dividing them into working groups during the Eid holidays at the sites and venues of events and activities and in shopping malls throughout the day to ensure the safety of visitors to these sites, which are more popular during the Eid holidays,” said Al Tahir.

“The official working hours for all employees of the section have been fixed and distributed in different periods in accordance with the working hours of the various food establishments in the shopping malls and outside the shopping centres. The names of the alternative employees have also been fixed during Eid Al Adha to receive 24-hour public communication through the Dubai Municipality Call Centre,” he said.

Al Tahir stressed the need to communicate with Dubai Municipality on the toll-free number 800900.