Consumers must take active food safety role: Municipality

Consumers' role in the creation of a safe food culture cannot bee underestimated, a Dubai Municipality official said yesterday.

"Only when people are educated about the foodstuff can the authorities play their role in creating a safe food culture," said Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality.

He was meeting the organising committee of the Fifth Dubai International Food Safety Conference, which will be held at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from February 21 to 24 along side the Gulfood exhibition.

Some of the world's top food safety experts will take part in the event, and discuss current food safety concerns.

Among the organisations attending are the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), International Association of Food Protection (IAFP), which is considered the biggest society in the field of food safety, as well as the UN's Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

"This will enhance the efforts in the field of food safety in the whole Middle East and the pioneering steps taken by Dubai Municipality will benefit many organisations in the region," said Lootah. "As the consumers are the end users, their role is very important and that should be highlighted in the conference."

Among those attending are Bill Marler, the world's most popular food safety litigator, Dr Patrick Wall, former head of Food Standards Authority of Ireland and Dr Fred Angulo from CDC.

Khalid Mohamed Sharif, Director of Food Control Department and the chairman of the conference organising committee said the conference will address areas related to the food laws and guidelines and the food safety culture and highlighting the role of food safety education. Several workshops and symposia will address foodborne disease investigations techniques which will be presented by experts from the WHO and CDC.

Other workshops include meat and poultry safety, water safety, dairy products safety, food safety systems and food safety culture. Sharif indicated the outcome of the workshops and discussions will help in improving food safety a the regional and local levels.

Professionals in the food industry can register at www.foodsafetydubai.com.

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