Food-Borne Diseases in UAE are Easier with GCC-Level Reporting System

In order to observe food-borne illnesses and food poisoning cases; a GCC-level reporting and surveillance system has been launched by the Dubai Municipality. At the 7th Dubai International Food Safety Conference the World Health Organization and local authorities in the UAE and other GCC countries will meet with the Food Control Department of the municipality. These authorities will coordinate together for a better system for monitoring and managing food-borne diseases. Dubai is the only place that is currently has an electronic system that allows immediate reporting, surveillance and investigation of food-borne diseases and food poisoning cases.

By using this system, the most common diseases were discovered and some common myths associated with food safety were vanished. However, due to the absence of national-level surveillance it is still hard to detect all food-related cases. “Unless everything is integrated, we cannot come up with a good picture and that is something which we are trying to achieve at the conference… We are trying to get it done at a GCC level” said Director of Food Control Department, Khalid Mohammed Sharif Al Awadhi. Director of the Dubai Accreditation Centre, Amina Ahmed Mohammed said “The key topics include Future and Challenges of Food Safety, Food Safety Audits and Inspections, Food-borne Disease Surveillance, Microbiological Testing, Safety of Animal Products, Role of Cold Chain Management in Food Safety and Labeling, and consumer awareness”.