Food safety is a joint responsibility of the government authorities and food outlets, according to experts. The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) recently held a workshop on standards of food safety to prevent food poisoning, targeting owners and representatives of restaurants and food establishments.
The workshop is part of MOPH's mission to guarantee safety of food in Qatar. The event aimed to reinstate the fact that food safety is a joint responsibility between regulators, owners, and managers of restaurants and food establishments.
Food borne diseases are one of the most prevalent public health problems globally, with more than three million deaths registered each year due to contaminated food. It also results in high percentage of diarrhoea cases among children under age five around the world.
“The public health requirements for food outlets includes location of the property away from smoke and dust, and should not be vulnerable to environmental pollution. The interior design of the facility should assure easy movement of food in one direction during all stages of the food preparation, so that cross - contamination does not occur,” said Ibrahim Jarrar, health Inspector of MoPH.
The workshop discussed the reasons behind food poisoning and the importance of following health requirements in the food business. Experts at the event explained proper health practices within the food outlets, the need to adhere to personal hygiene and periodic screening, and the importance of getting a health certificate before starting to work in kitchens.
