Food safety in Dubai to be ensured using new testing devices

Fruits and vegetables

In order to test bigger food samples to ensure public safety, the Dubai Central Lab (DCL) will roll out a new device by the end of July.

Engineer, Amin Ahmed Amin, who is the director of DCL in was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times: "Our current system takes in up to 260 kinds. The new device, operated by latest technology, will offer different types of inspections.”

It is the responsibility of the Dubai Municipality (DM) to test food and ensure they are free of any sort of pesticides and are fit for consumption.

Amin further said that the device will test for different types of chemicals in all the imported fruits and vegetables in a more accurate and timely manner.

"The device will be full-fledged in terms of capacity it can receive and the bigger scope it will cover to achieve higher food safety for both traders and consumers," Amin added.

Director of food safety department, Iman Al Bastaki, said that the civic body has always focused on testing bigger samples of fruits and vegetables and will strive to do the same. This comes in the midst of virus outbreaks across the region.

These officials were voicing their concerns and were speaking about the different measures on the sidelines of an MoU signing. The municipality will now sponsor the 10^th edition of World of Perishables (WOP) which will be held from October 1 to October 3.

As many as 38 countries are expected to take past in the exhibition and it will also be a platform which will strive to produce new businesses to look at the ever increasing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables.

It has to mentioned here that Dubai municipality (DM) has been working closely with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to ensure fruits and vegetables which are imported from Kerala are free of the Nipah virus.

"Although the ban has been lifted after World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the food to be free of Nipah virus, we still ask importers for certificate that the vegetables and fruits are safe," said Iman Al Bastaki, director of food safety department at the DM.