Wishing you all a green, happy and Blessed Ramadan!!!

Food wastage goes up drastically during Ramadan so the Dubai Municipality's Food Safety Department has drafted new guidelines for food establishments to keep food wastage in check, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.To make sure food is not wasted, the Dubai Municipality is coordinating with charities and donors to supply the surplus food to underprivileged families. Dubai has laid down new guidelines to cut food wastage and streamline the donation of excess food prepared at banquets and buffets. The department signed a partnership agreement with four charity groups and four major hotel groups in Dubai in this regard. Less cooking, less grocery shopping and minimal wastage of food is the target for this year's Ramadan in the the UAE.

As per the new guidelines- a registration and tracking system for implementing these new rules:

1.Food establishments should inform charities about the schedule of events that may have surplus food. Surplus food should not be displayed, but must be stored as per the safety regulations issued by the department.

2.The charities that collect the food should make sure the donated food is repacked and transported in good condition.

3.They should appoint a Person-In-Charge who acts as a food safety manager overseeing the hygiene and safety aspects of the collection, transportation and distribution of the food items.

Both the food establishments and charities have to follow the checklists provided and submit these reports so that they will have all the data about the volume and condition of the food donated and distributed and the department will also send inspectors to monitor the safety of food donation activities.

UAE Municipality would like to urge everyone, whether in a hotel or at home, who has extra food that can be donated should make use of this drive and opportunity to serve the community. They can either call the charities directly or take their details from the municipality's call centre 800900.

Emirates Red Crescent, Royati Family Society, Tarahum Charity Foundation, Al Maktoum Foundation, Armani Hotel, Dubai World Dubai World Trade Centre, Al Bustan and Murooj Rotana Group and Madinat Jumeirah Hotel Group are the entities that entered into a pact for the initiative in its first phase.

The "Heafz Al Na'amah" initiative launched at the Gulfood 2016 will make sure that surplus food from hotels, wedding halls, or home parties will not be wasted and will reach the needy in safe and hygienic conditions.

?Sahem?, an initiative started three years ago by Royati Family Society, focuses on collecting food across the city and distributing it amongst the needy people. Every Ramadan, a group of young men and women participate in this food drive so that labourers and less fortunate segment of the society get meal boxes.

Under the campaign ?You Sponsor, We Deliver? by Health Factory and Epicure, Iftar meal boxes costing Dh10 each would be supplied at labour accommodations and mosques. Corporate groups and individuals can order meal boxes in bulk and a minimum order worth Dh50 will be delivered at the desired location without any extra transportation charges.

The initiatives launched as part of social solidarity will definitely benefit needy families and individuals including labourers. As well as to the general public who wants to give back to the society during this holy month of Ramadan by sharing and caring.

 Source:www.khaleejtimes.com