December

Bahrain - Safety lab plan for Gulf
22 Dec 2008
Gulf Daily News - Soman Baby [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, Bahrain could soon host a regional lab aimed at improving food safety in Gulf countries. It is part of a major campaign being discussed at a meeting of Gulf port food officials, which opened in Dubai yesterday.
It reviewed the allocation of different ports in the Gulf for specific tests for the whole region, said the Health Ministry's food hygiene head. "Our food lab in Bahrain is ideal for microbiological tests on meat, chicken and fish," he said. "Once a lab is assigned for a specific test, we shall consider it as a regional lab."

September

Bahrain - Food safety clamp vowed
30 Sep 2008
Gulf Daily News [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, Bahrain has declared a "zero tolerance" crackdown on businesses which endanger public health by violating food safety laws. According to this story, people are being urged to report anything suspicious about food they buy over Eid - but the crackdown will continue even after the holiday, say officials. The Health Minister has ordered stringent inspections and violators will be prosecuted. This story goes on by emphasizing that particular importance is being given to the transport and storage of meat. A team of seven inspectors will be on duty at any given time during the holiday to check all food outlets, including restaurants, cold stores.

August

Dubai - How to eat safe during Ramadan
17 Aug 2008
GulfNews - Alice Johnson [edited] [iFSN]
The second phase of Dubai Municipality's food safety campaign will focus on Iftar meals during Ramadan. Ramadan tents will be inspected by the municipality to ensure that food hygiene standards are being met. The Director of the food control department at the municipality, said: "We will have a food safety programme during Ramadan. For Iftar meals, we will concentrate on activities in hotels and restaurants that have tents. The inspections will be according to the law on hygiene standards." The Director continued that guidelines have been distributed to restaurants and hotels that will be erecting temporary tents, detailing how different types of food should be kept and served. "In places with this temporary activity, food should be temperature-controlled depending on what type of food it is: whether it is hot or cold," he said. Dubai Municipality launched the first phase of its food safety campaign in April, under the banner "Food Safety is Our Priority", which aimed to raise public awareness of food safety.

United Arab Emirates - Compulsory hygiene course for food workers
09 Aug 2008
The National - Roland Hughes and Jen Gerson [edited] [iFSN]
All food industry workers in the emirate must undergo compulsory training from today under measures introduced by the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. According to this story, courses for workers in kitchens, cafes, restaurants and many other locations will begin in the capital this morning, the government news agency WAM reported yesterday. It is reported that certification programme, coupled with a number of other steps taken by the Food Control Authority in recent months, aims to ensure that food outlets and everyone involved in the industry observe the highest hygiene standards. Companies that do not ensure their staff have the certificate risk being fined, although no sums were disclosed yesterday. One of the men running the courses said the certification programme was an inevitable consequence of the way Abu Dhabi was developing as a global city. The courses, which will last a minimum of six hours, will be followed by an exam held at Al Hosn University, either in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain. Staff will be trained in how to handle food correctly, with the authority aiming for everyone working in the industry in the emirate to be trained by 2012. The new courses, run by three Abu Dhabi companies and to be held throughout the emirate, will be conducted in a variety of languages, including English and Arabic.

July

Dubai - Hotel serves up rare meat waiver
28 July 2008
The National - Matt Bradley [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, at restaurants in the five-star Shangri-La Hotel chain, beef patties served anything less than well-done now come with an unusual side dish – a legal waiver. The unusual legal procedure is meant to discourage customers from ordering rare or partially rare hamburgers and to protect the hotel from “any consequences that may result due to the consumption” of such meat. It is reported that the Shangri-La Hotel’s policy towards undercooked hamburgers and takeaway food has been in place for several years and is part of the luxury chain’s compliance to a rigid set of international food safety standards called the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system.

Saudi – Arabia - SAUDI food safety draft law ready
25 July 2008
Saudi Gazette - Muhammad Ottaib [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is putting the final touches to a food safety draft law. If passed by the Cabinet, the law will help ensure that all imported and indigenous foodstuff is in conformity with local specifications and internationally recognized standards. SFDA addresses public health issues relating to food, medicine and medical devices by conducting polls through its website. It is reported that in 2005, a poll on whether Saudi Arabia’s food poisoning rate was worse than in other Arab countries drew 45.5% yes votes and 40.5% no votes from respondents. Another poll showed that 52.4% of respondents were for publishing food poisoning statistics so as to boost consumer confidence in the local market.

June

Brunei - Consumers must ensure food is safe
27 June 2008
Brudirect.com - Azaraimy HH [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, the number of food poisoning cases in Brunei Darussalam has increased over the past few years mainly because of improper food preparation and bad handling practices. Out of the 2,203 food premises inspected last year, 385 were found to be unsatisfactory, while 17 other premises were requested for closure. While the Ministry of Health has taken steps to ensure to that food is safe for consumers, members of the public have to be "equally responsible" in ensuring that the food is safe". This observation was made by the Minister of Health, during the opening of the "Food Safety Symposium and Exhibition" at Brunei Shell Recreational Club in Seria yesterday.

Oman - Contaminated food destroyed
23 June 2008
Khaleej Times Online [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, inspection teams from the Muscat Municipality have destroyed 1.5 tonnes of fish, foodstuff and cooked meat found unfit for human consumption after raids on shops and restaurants in the wilayat of Baushar. Six shops were closed down and several others were issued warning notices. The raids, carried out in cooperation with the Public Prosecution Department and the Royal Oman Police (ROP), was part of drive to ensure that shops and eateries are adhering to the rules “now that temperatures are soaring and food products risk getting spoiled very easily if not properly stored,” a spokesman for the municipality explained.

May

Abu Dhabi - Food safety campaign to continue
30 May 2008
gulfnews.com - Binsal Abdul Kader [edited] [iFSN]
Naming the food outlets closed for violating safety standards since last month has not deterred other errant players in the sector, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) told Gulf News. According to the Manager of Communication and Information Department at ADFCA, six food outlets were closed from May 4 to May 21 for violating the rules and regulations on food safety. Two restaurants, two meat shops and two refreshment shops were closed. The Manager added thatthe names of four outlets which were closed down last month (April) were published to make the strict action transparent. Closure is the last step following warnings, imposing fines etc. It is reported that the last step was taken against the outlets which repeatedly violated the regulations. The official added that no one will be spared, however big they may be. As well as punishments for errant players, ADFCA will also give rewards for the best outlets.

Middle East - Debate about food safety best practices rages on
14 May 2008
ArabianBusiness.com [edited]
According to this story, despite the fact that many of the region's hotels and restaurants are in the process of gaining HACCP certification to meet international standards of safety, the Coral Deira Dubai general manager is claiming that these standards are "absolutely out of date and obsolete ".

Bahrain - New alert over dairy products
11 may 08
Gulf Daily News - Rebecca Torr [edited]
In this story, it is reported that according to a top nutritionist, consuming dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt could cause hormone problems, weight gain and lowered immunity in children.

Abu Dhabi - 30 food safety violations in April
08 May 2008
Khaleej Times Online - Anwar Ahmad [edited]
According to this story, the Food Inspection Department of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has detected 30 cases of violation of foodstuff safety norms, and ordered closure of four foodstuff units in April for failing to adhere to the hygiene standards prescribed by ADFCA. This was stated by the Manager of Communication and Information Department at the ADFCA who added that the Food Inspection Department destroyed 59kg of foodstuff and issued warnings to 604 food outlets, cafes and others.

April

Kuwait bans local milk
30 Apr 2008
Kuwait Times [edited]
According to this story, the Municipality yesterday banned the sale of unpacked fluid milk in the country. The move came following an outbreak of cow tuberculosis. Cops have already begun pulling local milk and beef products from shelves over fears of infection.

Abu Dhabi - 5-year strategic plan for food safety launched
24 Apr 2008
Khaleej Times - Anwar Ahmad [edited]
According to this story, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority’s five-year plan (2008-2012) for food and agriculture safety was officially launched on Tuesday by the Secretary General of Executive Council. The ADFCA has chalked out a strategic plan that would help keep consumers’ health safe. In an attempt to ensure the public health and safety of food in the emirate, the ADFCA has improved its strategic vision to be an internationally accredited foundation in the field of agriculture and food safety, [officials] pointed out. The draft legislation is now available on the web site of the ADFCA and in a few days it will be published in the newspapers so that stakeholders could plan and discuss accordingly with the ADFCA officials.
Related stories
24 Apr 2008 - Authority urges public to voice comments on new food safety law
Gulfnews - Binsal Abdul Kader

Dubai - Civic body drive to ensure food safety
20 Apr 2008
Gulfnews.com - WAM [edited]
According to this story, Dubai Municipality has launched a food safety awareness campaign under the banner 'Food Safety is our Priority'. The campaign will be accompanied by inspection visits to companies food stocking and selling food. According to the Deputy Director General of Dubai Municipality, the campaign aims to spread public awareness about the municipality's efforts, which include inspection campaigns to ensure the safety of food in the emirate, creating strategic partnerships with all the parties concerned with food safety, and raising public awareness on food safety. The campaign also aims to combat unfounded rumours concerning food content and colouring, educating the public on food additives and international standards, the importance of preserving food, reasons for using additives and colourings and their safety.

December 2007

Qatar - Food quality guidelines by next year
09 Dec 2007
Gulf Daily News [edited]
Unified guidelines for monitoring food quality in the GCC will be implemented before the middle of 2008, it has emerged. The story says that discussions on setting up the guidelines have concluded and the final draft is now being looked at by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Health Ministry Public Health Directorate food control head Dr Abdulla Ahmed told the GDN. A technical team has been set up by officials who attended the 10th GCC meeting on food safety in Doha, Qatar, in November, to meet the mid-2008 deadline. According to the plan, once a harmful substance is found in any foodstuff by a GCC state, the member states would be informed immediately through a computerised network.

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