The scorching summer heat carries food-poisoning risks to consumers, with transported items most likely to spoil, safety chiefs have warned.
They urged families to keep food in cold storage when stocking up for festivities surrounding the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the hottest time of year.
Officials are planning a range of campaigns that will intensify monitoring of the food industry and raise awareness of the risks to consumers. Mohammed al Reyaysa, spokesman for the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, said: “The summer will be eventful. People think the summer is a time for holidays, but [food] establishments should know that there will be deterrent penalties if anyone crosses the red line of the consumer."
Food safety infractions typically peak during the summer. Last June and July, the authority found violations that led to its highest-profile closures of meat counters, at Carrefour in Marina Mall and Lulu Hypermarket in Al Wahda Mall.
In August last year, 11 labourers were treated for suspected food poisoning after they received catering from a company that was not equipped to provide food to large groups. A series of deaths of young children in Dubai last summer were all suspected to be related to food poisoning. At least three died when they fell ill after consuming food not prepared at home. Nathan and Chelsea D’Souza, five and seven, died in June after becoming ill following a takeaway meal from a Chinese restaurant in a case that is still in the courts.
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