Doha: Enhanced measures implemented by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) have ensured food safety during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The Ministry adapted and enhanced food safety incident management protocol, established incident management task tear, enhanced food safety risk assessment capacity and risk communication framework developed and implemented during the tournament.
The analytical capacities of the Ministry were strengthened by the Central Food Lab. Two labs at borders and four mobile labs were operational 24/7 during the tournament. The labs were able to check 2,040 food samples in a day, the Ministry said in a tweet.
Enhanced preventive and operational inspection measures by the Ministry included strengthening workforce with on-going training for staff; preventive monitoring at all World Cup official and non official sites. Their operators were subject to per-assessment inspections and follow-up visits.
The Ministry had put effective plans in place including risk-based inspection, sampling and contamination follow-up. The Ministry also ensured that major providers of food are supplied through a reliable supply chain made of approved suppliers.
Extra measures were in place at all borders to ensure food safety by using Integrated Electronic Management System — an electronic information exchange mechanism for border and local inspection; a registration system was implemented for all food business involved in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Food handlers licenses are issued in collaboration with Qatar Chamber. Food Handlers Guidelines are published on the Ministry's website in 3 languages; food handlers in official hotels were examined prior to license approvals; special training was conducted for Ministry’s food inspectors and food safety related officials at hotels.
As part of proactive education and awareness raising, the Ministry conducted workshops for food establishments, prepared guidelines and educational materials for food establishments and food importers and made them available on the website for easy access.
Sites covered by food safety inspection during the FIFA World Cup 2022 by the Ministry of Public Health included the Corniche Activation area, FIFA Fan Zone, Industrial Area Fan Festival, hotels and other fan accommodations, floating hotels, Host Country Media Centre, Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre and at other assigned caterers.
The Ministry also created awareness ahead of the tournament on the Fan Health Information page.
It said that food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers, and consumers. As one in ten people get sick each year from contaminated food, the Ministry advised people to take precautions to protect themselves from food poisoning and foodborne illnesses.
