The inspectors holding search at one of the shops.
DOHA: Al Khor and Al Dhakhira Municipality has launched a massive crackdown on food outlets and restaurants to ensure they are complying to the health rules by the beginning of holy month of Ramadan. The inspection drive was launched following the directive of Jumah Khamis Al Muraikhi, Director of Al Khor and Al Dhakhira Municipality for the safety and security of the consumers.
“Under the drive, the inspectors visited several food outlets to inspect all stages of food processing staring from production to showcasing at the shops in a bid to reach to the consumers safely,” said Isa Hasan Al Muhannadi, Director of Monitoring Department at the Municipality.
He said that the crackdown also aims at enforcing food safety regulation which help consumers avoid buying and using substandard and expired food items by ensuring proper storage of food items and marketing it.
“A team of inspectors comprising of veterinary doctors has intensified inspection on butcheries at Al Khor City to ensure the meat offered by meat shops are fit for human consumption,” said Matar Mohamad Al Kuwari, Head of the Health Monitoring Section at the Municipality.
He said that the demand of meat increased in Ramadan and there is risk of being rotten in case of improper transportation and storage.
“During inspection drive, the inspectors make sure whether the meat shops are following the required health rules like having refrigerators and storage facility,” said Al Kuwari adding that as per the rule the meat should be stored at minus 18 degree Celsius which help prevent bacteria.
“However, the fresh meet should be stored at maximum 4 degree Celsius. The tools for cutting the meat like knife should be made of rustproof metals. The space of a meat shop should not be less than 16 sqm, and the meat section at supermarkets and groceries should not be less than 9 sqm,” said Al Kuwari. He said that during Ramadan, the inspection drive will continue entire day at butcheries, fish markets, restaurants, outlets offering Iftar meals and other commercial shops in Al Khor and Al Dhakhira Municipality.
A team of inspectors from Health Monitoring Section caught many violations of Law No. 8 of 1990 for regulating foods at shops and restaurants recently. A total of 976 slaughtered sheep were inspected since the beginning of the initiative which provided sheep at subsidised prices to citizens in Ramadan. The inspectors also inspected 81 slaughtered cows at private abattoirs.
