The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has organized a campaign themed "Smart Shopping" on the sound practices for food shopping in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. It came as part of the authority's campaigns being carried out throughout the year to educate consumers on how to be safe while purchasing, transporting and storing food. Furthermore, the campaign aimed at increasing consumer confidence in foods being handled in the emirate's markets.

During the campaign, ADFCA's inspectors visited several shopping markets, interacted with consumers and shared with them valuable information on the sound practices to be followed while shopping. They urged consumers to read the food label, check the expiration date and report any suspicious products.

The authority's inspectors have also distributed awareness leaflets that include detailed explanation of shopping sound practices. In addition, they answered the consumers' questions about food safety and procedures taken by ADFCA to provide safe food to the public.

ADFCA's Spokesperson, Thamer Al Qasemi, said: "During the campaign, we were keen on raising the consumers' awareness about the safest practices that must be followed while shopping. Besides, consumers were introduced to the wrong practices that affect foods' safety while shopping."

Al Qasemi stressed that shopping is one of the most important phases of the food chain for its several processes that affect the food safety. He pointed out that smart shopping can be achieved by following specific steps that contribute to preserving consumer health.

"Avoid mixing up ready-to-eat and raw food in the shopping cart, keep detergents and chemicals away from foodstuffs, pick frozen items only in the end of shopping, and freeze items that need to be cool as soon as possible are some of the smart practices we highlighted in our campaign," Al Qasemi clarified.

Al Qasemi urged the public to avoid buying any suspicious items and reporting them through Abu Dhabi Government Call Center 800555. He also called the consumers for following-up the food safety tips published by ADFCA on its website and social media accounts.