In the soaring heat, warning has been issued to the food outlets, cafeterias and restaurants to ensure that their staff wears caps and gloves at the time of cooking in the kitchen and should use tissues to clean their sweat.

These instructions have been issued by the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) to ensure hygiene and cleanliness during the holy month of Ramadan.

A number of complaints have also been made by the public that the small cafeterias lack cleanliness and hygiene standards, and rats and cockroaches have been seen moving around freely in their premises.

Frequent inspections and levy of fines on the food joints, found violating the law by ADFCA, have led to the closure of number of such joints; but the blame has been put on the badly maintained shops. A food joint owner said: “The fact is that rents have skyrocketed, cost of living has shot up, raw material prices have increased and transportation charges have also gone up. But rates of a meal, a burger and a cup of tea have remained the same for several years. We find it difficult to manage under such circumstances.” 

Spokesman of ADFCA, Mohammed Jalal Al Reyaysa, said: “If our inspectors find anything that is not within the rules, they immediately fine the outlets. ADFCA always strives to put maximum pressure through our inspectors so that people follow the prescribed rules of the authority. And most people comply with our rules.” 
 
Commenting on the restaurant kitchen staff not wearing head caps and gloves, Reyaysa said: “The violation is grave, the outlet might be shut down and the matter is referred to the court.”

He further added: “In July, five shops were closed for different violations. It is a sign that we regularly take action against violators of our food standards. Any time we close any food outlet we announce it.”

He has also appealed to the public to report the violations by the food joints on ADFCA’s toll free number 8006565.