A municipal inspector is booking a violation using the new device at a food outlet in Al Rayyan Municipality during the pre-Ramadan inspection drive.
DOHA: Municipal inspectors armed with advanced gadgets for booking violations have launched a massive crackdown on eateries, outlets serving special Arab dishes, cafeteria, sweet shops, butcheries, chicken and fish shops to ensure they are ready for the holy month of Ramadan.
Feeling the heat of the inspection drive, the outlets made necessary preparations to avoid punishments that included hefty fine and closure, manager of a restaurant operating at Salata Al Jadeed told The Peninsula.
Under pre-Ramadan inspection drive, two outlets offering popular Arab cuisines for banquettes known as Al Matbakh Al Shabi (kitchen) at Al Rayyan Municipality were shut down for two weeks for flouting food safety rules, said the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in a statement.
Umm Salal Municipality also issued administrative orders to shut down four food outlets for violating health rules. The inspectors of health monitoring unit at Al Rayyan Municipality were provided modern devices to book violation during the inspection drive to ensure the market is ready for Ramadan.
The inspection drive aims at ensuring food safety and create awareness to food handlers about food safety rules and regulation.
According to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the intensified inspection drive will continue in coming days and throughout Ramadan.
The health monitoring unit at Umm Salal Municipality has also intensified inspection drive on food outlets ahead of Ramadan. A total of 36 violations were recorded since the inspection drive launched and administrative decisions were issued to close four outlets for violating health rules.
“We expect surprise raids by municipal inspectors ahead of Ramadan and during the holy month so we made necessary preparation to avoid any punishment,” Saleem Khan, manager of a popular restaurant operating at Salal Jadid, told The Peninsula.
He said that the inspectors focused on hygiene and food safety during their visits to the eateries. “The inspectors ensured proper storage of food items as we are required to store meat, chicken and fish separately,” said Khan. He said that as per the rule, restaurant are not allowed to put the frozen chicken, meat or fish in hot or cold water for melting the ice.
He added that as per the instruction such items should be taken out few hours before cooking to let it to come to the room temperature gradually.
Speaking on other health rules and regulations, Khan said: food handlers should wear gloves and caps to avoid any unhealthy thing mixing up with foods.
