School canteens told to keep data on sources of food

New guidelines for school canteens in the emirate emphasises the responsibility of canteens to keep details regarding the sources of food, a senior official at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has said. "School canteens have to keep detailed files of foods being sold as it will help the food safety inspectors to trace the source of food in the event of any untoward incident like food poisoning," Mohammad Abdulla Al Fardan, Deputy Director of Communication and Community Service at ADFCA, told Gulf News. "The files should have details of suppliers of food, so that the inspectors can check [in the event of any untoward incident] whether the same suppliers have distributed the food to other school canteens and take necessary preventive steps," he said. The new guidelines, is certified by ADFCA in co-operation with Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD) and Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC), for the new school year 2011-2012 covers the entire food chain, Al Fardan said. Article continues below "It gives guidelines and instructions to school canteens, covering all aspects of food chain originating from farm to fork," he said. The guide explains how to handle food during packaging, transportation, storage and cooking, the official said. Schools and canteens have to highlight the fact that children and parents should contact the authority if they find anything unsatisfactory about the food being sold at the canteen, he said. No processed meat The guidelines prohibit items such as processed meat (sausages, nuggets, burgers, shawarma), nuts, French fries and chips, ice cream, chocolate bars and ice cream, jelly lollipops, chewing gum with sugar, any type of sweets containing artificial colouring, soft drinks, energy drinks, flavoured water. Some food items are allowed if certain conditions are met. They are: cereals (canned or packed), stuffed fruit pie (on condition that it's not more than 52 grams), thin layer of garlic bread with olive oil (on condition that it should not weigh more than 28 grams per layer), rice, noodles, pasta, pastries and manakish (not more than 52 grams).