Dubai: Although it is unhygienic and illegal, domestic catering is fast becoming popular among bachelors who get meals delivered at their doorstep in return for a monthly fee

This type of catering is often carried out by Asian families who are looking to bring in some additional income to the family.

A senior Dubai municipality official yesterday said that domestic catering is completely prohibited by the civic body.

Unlicensed

"These are unlicensed caterers and can pose a health risk," said Khalid Shareef, director, department of food control at Dubai Municipality. He was reacting to questions raised by community members on the hygiene and food safety aspect involved in such kind of catering.

Shareef said: "Any one who comes across such domestic catering should get in touch with the economic department and the municipality's food department and lodge a complaint. Domestic catering is disapproved by us as there is no supervisory body to check food hygiene.

"For example the caterer might be suffering from some illness which can turn into a health risk for those whom he is catering to."

Shareef said as per the regulation a food outlet prior to going operational has to get approval from the economic department, the planning department, the municipality and the health department.

A domestic food caterer who operates from home and has a handful of clients said that she has employed a part time maid to help her out in the kitchen.

"I used to get food delivered to the workplace of a couple of bachelors who used to share our apartment. It is through word of mouth that the clientele increased."

She delivers lunch every day for Dh200 per month. The amount is doubled for delivery of dinner boxes.

"The clients are aware as to what they are being served at lunch or dinner as the menu is set for each day."

In reply to a query on whether she is aware that such practice is prohibited and could land her in trouble, she said: "Yes, I am aware, but I have only a few clients."

A couple of bachelors who spoke to Gulf News said that they find the domestic catering as economical and that the food tastes like home food.

Bhavesh Patil, an Indian bachelor, said: "I was fed up eating out every day and the food tasted the same. I came across a small notice pasted on domestic catering service at our building entrance with a contact number. I got in touch with that person. I was provided free lunch boxes as a trial for a couple of days."

Sarfaraz, a Pakistani resident, said: "I used to cater to domestic caterers when my wife was in Pakistan. The food was not that good but since it was run by a housewife and the food was made in her own kitchen I never gave a thought on hygienic aspect of food preparation. I used to get lunch box delivered for Dh250 per month."