Abu Dhabi school canteens served notice on hygiene

Most of the food safety violations detected in school canteens this academic year were related to lack of hygiene among staff serving food, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has revealed During inspections at school canteens through the current academic year, it was observed that most of the violations pertained to the personal hygiene and neatness of food handlers, a senior official told Gulf News. "The inspectors have been warning the food handlers to avoid contamination" as a result of food coming into contact with skin, hands, hair and the like, Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, director of communication and community service at ADFCA, said. The authority, however, did not reveal the number of violations or fines issued against errant school canteens. Al Reyaysa said the number of violations or the fines imposed thereof were determined based on the type of violation as mentioned in the food safety laws. He requested both pupils and their parents to report violations on the Abu Dhabi Government's toll-free number. Spreading awareness The ADFCA campaign, besides spreading awareness, was meant to further health education among pupils who would be encouraged to adopt an integrated healthy dietary system, he added. The campaign also aimed to guide youngsters to adopt a healthy approach to the preparation and consumption of food, Al Reyaysa said, emphasising that anti-obesity goals had also been incorporated in it. The campaign gains added significance since one in three children in Abu Dhabi is either overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Al Reyaysa said the authority had issued guidelines regarding healthy food across the food chain and the rules applied to all food establishments, including all school canteens across the emirate. "The person responsible for the canteen should ensure the implementation of good hygienic practices. He or she is also responsible for ensuring general hygiene and food safety," he said. Inspections intensified Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority inspectors have intensified their inspections at schools canteens since launching the ‘Eat right get active' campaign last year. The campaign jointly conducted by Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) and ADFCA has enhanced awareness about the health risks posed by junk food, according to officials. The campaign also aims to increase awareness of food groups and calories, as well as fostering behavioural change towards a healthy diet and the need for students to be physically active. It targeted school nurses, school teachers, parents and students in 486 private and public schools across the emirate. Dubai awareness campaign The Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality is launching a food safety campaign focusing on the proper use of food packaging material. The campaign, which starts tomorrow, aims to increase basic awareness about various kinds of food packaging material readily available in the market and how each material actually interacts with the food or beverage it may be used as a container for under various circumstances — during storing, freezing or heating. Targeting schools, offices and households, the campaign includes a series of seminars and workshops over three phases, as well as dissemination of essential and vital information on the subject.