ABU DHABI // A lorryload of rotten food disappeared on its way to the rubbish tip - and reappeared in the same shop that had condemned it in the first place.
The rice, pistachio nuts, oil and vine leaves came from a storage warehouse belonging to Al Mustaqbal supermarket in Al Ain. They were part of a 90-tonne batch sent to be destroyed after a fire in a neighbouring warehouse raised temperatures in the supermarket's storage area to unhygienic levels.
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After the lorry disappeared its owner, the food wholesaler Al Maya, told Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) it had found the contents back on Al Mustaqbal's shelves.
Inspectors did not find any on the shelves, but the authority said the supermarket owner admitted buying the food from an "unknown individual". He told them he had returned it as soon as he realised it was bad.
The case was referred to Al Ain police, and the public prosecution has taken over the investigation.
Mohamed Jalal al Reyaysa, ADFCA's communications director, promised "stern action" if the allegations are proven.
He described consumer safety as "a red line we will never allow anyone to cross" and said the incident was serious. "We will not show any leniency towards the culprits."
cmalek@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
