15 food outlets closed for falling short of standards

Fifteen food outlets were slapped with temporary closure orders by Dubai Municipality in the last quarter of 2011 after failing to meet basic health, safety and technical requirements. The municipality conducted more than 6,600 visits in the last quarter. Of these, only 4 per cent of outlets visited were found to be "not satisfactory". Ten outlets were graded ‘excellent' while 11 per cent of outlets visited were graded ‘very good'. Common violations included a lack of general cleanliness, a failure to store food at the right temperature and the selling of expired foodstuffs. "The outlets that got closure orders may be allowed to [reopen] their businesses after they fulfil the requirements mandated by the municipality," said Sultan Ali Taher, head of the Food Inspection Section in Dubai Municipality's Food Control Department.