Emad Eddin Khalil, Staff Reporter
The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) issued administrative decisions regarding the closure of 7 restaurants and food establishments in the city of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra region, since the beginning of 2022, due to violations affecting public health.
The ADAFSA said that the most notably violations were the low level of hygiene in areas of handling and food preservation, poor food preservation, and the presence of insects in places of food preparation and using inappropriate equipment or tools.
Last May, the ADAFSA's food safety sector inspectors closed 4 restaurants and food establishments in Abu Dhabi for violating the law and posing a threat to public health.
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The ADAFSA also closed a restaurant in the Mussafah area in Abu Dhabi, due to preparing non-halal food without obtaining the necessary permits, and using the same equipment and tools used to prepare halal food, in addition to slaughtering sheep inside the kitchen without obtaining the necessary approvals and licenses. The inspectors also seized meat of unknown source and without identification card.
“The facility can be allowed to practise the activity again after correcting its conditions and fulfilling all necessary requirements, replacing the equipment used in preparing food, and cleaning and sterilising the facility completely before reopening it to the public,” the ADAFSA said.
The authority also affirmed that all establishments are subject to periodic inspection by the authority's inspectors to ensure their compliance with food safety requirements.
The ADAFSA called on the public to report any violations monitored in any food establishment or when they suspect the contents of the food by calling the toll-free number of the Abu Dhabi Government 800555 so that the necessary actions are taken.