Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) stressed the need for food establishments to document details about suppliers of food stuffs and all other materials used in the process of food preparation as well as the details of customers that they serve or supply their products. This is to make sure all the necessary details are readily available when the Authority seeks them out when recalling or tracking a food product.

The statement came during a workshop ADFCA organized to explain the recall and tracking system for foods.  Abdullah Al Junaibi, Director of Field Operations and a number of owners and managers of food establishments attended the workshop, which was aimed at reviewing the effectiveness of the recall and tracking system in food manufacturing units by interlinking the data at both ends as a first phase.

Saeed Jasim, Acting Director of Communication and Community Service at ADFCA, said the recall and tracking system covered all the different stages of the food chain and its responsibility was on the primary manufacturers, distributors, retailers and wholesalers and others involved in the sale of foods.

Jasim explained that the system required food establishments to keep a record of all transactions for the stipulated period and present it to the authorities when asked. "They are required also to take the necessary steps to recall a food product that they imported, manufactured or distributed the moment they realized it posed a threat to the health of the consumers or it did not conform to the standards and specifications. They are also bound to intimate ADFCA about it," he added. 

Saeed Jasim pointed out that the food establishments were required by the recall and tracking system to take all preemptive actions necessary to avoid or reduce health risks borne of food. "If they feel any food product had the potential to harm the consumers in any way, the food establishments must recall it from the market, inform the consumers and ADFCA the same with the reasons," he concluded. 

The workshop included a detailed presentation on the recall and tracking system, which stipulated minute recording of all aspects of transactions across the food chain.