Fourteen tonnes of out-of-date foodstuffs and cosmetics being repackaged for sale have been seized from a warehouse in Sharjah in the latest in a spate of food security scares.
The warehouse, in Al Dhaid, was being run by several illegal immigrants and Sharjah Municipality officials and police raided it after a tip-off about a gang tampering with validity dates on produce and selling it on as fresh.
Municipality director Ali Musabbeh Al Tunaiji said on Monday that the men were put under surveillance until they were caught red-handed changing production and expiry dates before repacking the products.
“The warehouse lacked all health standards, and there was quite a spacious area behind the warehouse also used to stock expired products waiting to be dealt with,” said Mr Al Tuniaiju.
More than 5,000 cosmetic products were also seized in the warehouse, in Al Dhaid’s new industrial area, and destroyed.
“A lorry they used to distribute the unfit products was confiscated, and some other equipment used by them to alter dates and repack was also seized,” added Mr Al Tunaiji.
The incident is the latest food security scare in the UAE and has prompted questions about low-paid workers being exploited by rogue operators trying to make a quick buck.
In July Dubai Municipality said it had seized more than 1,300 tonnes of rotten fruit, vegetables and meat from unlicensed markets in the first half of the year, much of which was being stored in unsanitary places. And in the same month a meat factory that processed frozen chicken into mortadella and sausages was shut down in Ras Al Khaimah after it was found to be repackaging huge amounts of spoilt and expired chicken for sale.
______________________
Read more:
Tonnes of rotten food being sold to Dubai’s poorest residents
Meat factory closed for repackaging out-of-date chicken with new expiry dates
______________________
Sharjah Municipality said that last year more than 1,200 tonnes of expired food that had been repackaged, ready to be sold, was seized and destroyed.
“Raw meat products should kept in refrigerators and vendors selling such foodstuffs in illegal markets are taking advantage of labourers,” said Dr Jane Darakjian, a nutritionist at Top Medical Centre in Dubai.
“Food which has become contaminated with harmful bacteria causes several illnesses, including colon diseases, cancer and food poisoning.
“Raw or cooked meat, chicken and fish should be covered or it will be exposed to germs and fungus. It also needs to be kept at specific temperatures, depending on if it is cooked or raw meat.”
Sultan Al Tahir, head of the food inspection section at Dubai Municipality, said food sold at random markets can be “extremely dangerous”.
“These items were not tested, they are coming from unknown sources, are not being inspected by health experts,” he said. “Vendors at random markets are selling those items using illegitimate methods.”
Despite the numerous cases, officials insist that food security is a top priority. Omar Al Muhairi, head of food control and inspection at Sharjah Municipality, said that inspections on food outlets such as restaurants, cafeterias, supermarkets, grocery stores and other food-related establishments are conducted regularly.
The municipality’s food safety programme oversees more than 7,000 businesses, he said, and inspections also target street vendors and impromptu markets held in industrial areas.
Fines for individual offenders range from Dh1,000 to Dh5,000, the municipality said.
Mohammed Abbas Al Baloushi, head of the environmental emergency office at Dubai Municipality, said that inspections are also common in his emirate.
“Foodstuff and products sold in illegal markets are unfit for human consumption. Health inspectors carry out regular inspections in these areas to deter vendors from selling spoilt food,” he said, adding that labourers buying items from illegal markets do not understand the dangerous effects of eating spoilt food.
Mr Al Tunaiji appealed to the public in Sharjah to report food safety breaches to the hotline on 993 or through the municipality’s social media accounts.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
