As the fasting month is drawing near Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has urged consumers to be more wise and responsible while shopping and consuming food materials.

In this regard, Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director of Communication & Community Service Division said, "We urge consumers to be more wise and responsible while purchasing food items during the month of Ramadan. Wise shopping will help us to select safe and healthy items and will contribute substantially is saving money and food"

He said ADFCA is going to boost up its awareness activities before and during Ramadan targeting all sections of society including families, workers of food establishments and general public.

"As the summer and fasting come together the safety risk is going to be more high. Proper dissemination of best food handling practices as well as food safety knowledge will have to play an important role in this regard. As ADFCA is all set to carry out more activities to enlighten public, we urge all consumers to support ADFCA in its efforts to ensure a safe summer and fasting season by strictly following food safety practices" he said.

According to him there are certain things, simple to practice but having great impact, to be followed during purchasing food items such as separating food stuff from cleaning items, confirming expiry date, selecting fresh fruits and vegetables, reading food labels before buying, segregating meat products from vegetables, avoiding picking up milk products in the beginning of shopping, keeping raw food and ready- to- eat items in separate covers and maintaining safe refrigeration practices during and after buying commodities.

He stressed the importance of avoiding random shopping especially during Ramadan and urged consumers to keep a wise plan before entering to markets in order to avoid food wastage.

He said ADFCA has boosted up its mechanism to carry out inspections on food facilities and establishments during Ramadan.

"ADFCA inspectors will work on three shifts starting from nine in the morning till two in the next morning. We will also increase the number and volume of inspections on places where customer visits expected to be high during Ramadan such as bakeries, catering services, and hyper markets" he said.