ABU DHABI // Food authorities closed down a restaurant and a meat counter and issued more than 1,000 warnings during a recent campaign to promote food safety. The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority stepped up inspections during Ramadan and Eid to meet the expected surge in demand for food products during the holidays. The Khawla Restaurant in al Samha and the Jordan meat counter in Mina Street were closed for "violating health requirements", said an authority spokesman, Mohamed al Reyaysa. He did not give the exact nature of the violations, but said the closures were a result of repeat offences.
The authority conducted 4,871 inspections and handed out 1,130 warnings to restaurants and food establishments during Ramadan and Eid. Also, 49 fines were issued to eateries found to be in violation of hygiene rules for a second time. Mr al Reyaysa said complaints from consumers to the authority's hotline played a role in identifying safety violations. The authority destroyed more than three tonnes of unhygienic food products during the recent campaign, which was almost three times the amount destroyed during August.
In Dubai, three restaurants were closed during Eid for hygiene and technical violations, the municipality said. kshaheen@thenational.ae
