By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: Some people, who experience stomach pain after eating at restaurants, fear about food poisoning as the number of such cases rises during summer months.
However, Majeed Borhan Zaidan, Head, Health Control Section, Al Rayyan Municipality, said food poisoning cases in the municipality area were not many and all complaints did not mean there was food poisoning.
“A minimum of three people should have eaten the same food at the same time to complain, otherwise we can’t say it is a case of food poisoning,” he explained.
He said the municipality was receiving complaints of food poisoning when in fact most were cases of stomach pain.
A complaint lodged by only one person cannot be taken into account and made as basis to take action against a restaurant, he added.
“The problem is that people complain after two or three days, how can we investigate?
“Sometimes a complainant warns the restaurant that he/she will report to the authorities, so the restaurant removes the meal before inspectors arrive,” he said, adding consumers should report about food violations secretly.
Zaidan said most complaints involved hair strands or other things found in food.
“Our inspection campaign is continuing. Four days ago, we caught a shop selling expired sweets and measures to be undertaken are being decided.”
He advised people not to leave fresh food, particularly meat, in the car for a long time.
“Some people complain that they bought meat with foul smell but they had left it in their car for, maybe, two or three hours. Such food should be stored properly. As soon as they reach home, they should keep such food in the refrigerator as room temperature will spoil it.”
On Eid Al-Adha preparations, Zaidan said they are planning to increase the number of veterinarians at Al Rayyan abattoirs who will work in two shifts.
“We will also ask Widam Food Company to bring security personnel to manage disputes.
“Widam is responsible for the abattoirs, while the municipality is the supervising authority,” Zaidan aded.
Some people told this daily earlier that the two abattoirs in Al Rayyan were very old and did not meet people’s needs. They were not equipped with new cutting machines and the air conditioners were not properly maintained.
They urged Widam to improve the condition of abattoirs and said there was no waiting areas and people wait inside the slaughtering rooms.
The Peninsulas
