Over Dh20,000 fine slapped on 55 UAE food outlets

Cracking down on erring food and health institutions, the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality has slapped 55 outlets with hefty fines amounting to Dh20,575.

The erring shops were part of 1,337 food and health institutions inspected at different areas of the emirate in June this year, according to a top official.

Shaimaa Al Tunaiji, acting manager of the Public Health Department, said that inspectors carried out 356 inspection campaigns in June across the emirate.

"Up to two cosmetic items and 16 food products were confiscated and destroyed for being found expired or unfit for human consumption."

Some outlets turn deaf ears to our repetitive warnings letters and are only concerned with their interests while disregarding the impact of their unfit products on customers' health, she added.

"The RAK municipal inspectors deal with no-tolerance with any violation related to people's health, and keep a close eye on all food and health institutions across the emirate."

Al Tunaiji warned that hefty fines, along with temporary or permanent closure, shall be imposed on erring institutions. "More inspection campaigns shall be launched to get a better control on the RAK markets."

While none of the erring shops was shut down, 45 of them were issued warning letters, he disclosed. "Some 55 other outlets were ordered to pay different fines, amounting to Dh20,575, as per the type and impact of the violation they are involved in each."

Staff inspectors also impounded seven vehicles after being nabbed while selling foods on the street or offering their vehicles for sale in violation of law, Al Tunaiji explained.

"The public is urged to show no cooperation with street vendors - mostly coming from nearby emirates as they were unlicensed - who fail to meet the prescribed health standards, posing a grave risk to people's health."

Official records show that the RAK Municipality issued 1,554 health cards to workers of commercial entities last month. "Up to 84 validity certificates for exporting foodstuff were issued in June as well."

Besides, 7,828 animals, including sheep, goats and cows, were slaughtered at the Central Abattoir in Filya area, he disclosed. "However, 57 other animals were killed for being sick and unfit for human consumption."

Up to 50 animals were slaughtered in the Shawka Abattoir against 1,757 in the RAK Abattoir where one animal was killed for failing to meet the standards, Al Tunaiji elaborated. "Up to 247kg of slaughtered birds were also seized at the RAK international Airport."

The central municipal lab has received 412 samples, including 287 food and 125 water samples, for analysis, she said. "Up to 396 of these proved valid while 16 failed to meet the UAE standards."

Source: Khaleej Times