Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, being  part of its efforts to raise food safety awareness among public, spent 207 hours in the month of May to carry out a number of activities including lectures, campaigns, workshops and field visits through which the officials interacted with various sections, disseminating food safety knowledge and awareness.

The activities mainly included lecture programs for students and teachers in which the audience were enlightened on a number of topics related to food safety such as Food labels, Safe Shopping, Food Poisoning, Food and Additives, Hand Washing and Precautions to be taken before handling food.

During the field visits held in the report period, groups of students toured main fish markets in the emirate guided by ADFCA officials in order to observe the preparation, sterilization, displaying, packaging and storing of seafood being carried out in line with the rules and systems set by the food control body. Visits were also conducted to research stations under ADFCA in order to give the participants a clear picture about the agricultural production and the researches being held in this field.

A number of consultative meetings were held last month in which ADFCA officials met owners and representatives of food facilities with the objective of imparting latest scientific knowledge and best practices to handle food. Through these meetings, the notion of 'collective responsibility' in the area of food safety was well explained to the targeted audience.

During the Food Awareness Week, the authority reached out to several fish markets and shopping complexes in the emirate to have one-to-one interaction with the staff in order to explain them the idea of 'self-control' to be maintained by the businesses to ensure each and every consumer gets safe and quality food.

Also, the food control body organized ten awareness campaigns last month targeting food facilities across the emirate, being part of the preparations for holy month of Ramadan and summer season. During these campaigns held in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Western Region, the officials visited the facilities in order to ensure that food safety rules & regulations are well abided and the products are meeting the mandatory requirements and specifications.