Photo for representation only
DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality, represented by the Municipal Affairs Sector, organised today, October 24, 2022, an awareness meeting with all food delivery companies in the country, under the slogan 'My Food is Safe'.
The initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining food safety and adhering to the health requirements and standards that must be met at all stages of the food chain, especially the final stage, in order to provide safe and secure food for home delivery services, stressing that car or motorcycle as means of transportation for food delivery must not be used for other purposes.
The meeting was attended by Mansour Abdullah Zaid Al Mahmoud, Assistant Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs Municipalities at the Ministry of Municipality, and a number of ministry officials and representatives of food delivery companies and restaurants.
The forum tackled proper and high-quality levels of delivery of foodstuffs of all kinds, especially ready-to-eat meals, as improper and unhealthy delivery can lead to a breach of the food safety system, which in turn can lead to infection or food poisoning.
During the meeting, it was pointed out that a car or motorbike, as means of transportation for food delivery, is intended for home delivery only and may not be used for other purposes, and that motorcycles must be provided with boxes made of durable stainless materials that are easy to clean and disinfect.
The awareness meeting stressed that the car or motorcycle must be specially equipped to be used in the delivery of food, whether it is hot at a temperature of at least 64°C, at a normal room temperature of 25°C, or refrigerated at 0 to 4°C, or frozen at a temperature of -18°C, with food packed in suitable and appropriate containers, so that food item maintained all their characteristics, quality and safety, to satisfy and protect the consumer.
As for the packaging materials, which are special materials that are usually disposable and of one-time use, they should bear a logo with contact information, and may be in the form of cups, containers, and flat caps or covers.
'My food is safe' stressed the periodic maintenance of means of transport and equipment by the operating companies, to ensure the safety of foodstuffs.
Also, the employees of the delivery operator must wear a uniform with the logo of the food facility in which he works during the provision of the service.
In addition, the delivery worker must hold a certificate stating that he is healthy and free of contagious diseases. The delivery worker must maintain and always adhere to good personal hygiene and appearance. It is strictly prohibited to smoke while working in food handling.
