Bakery in RAK closed for selling rotten bread
Ramiz Thalhath
The owner of the bakery had manipulated the production and expiry dates of the loaves of bread being offered for sale in his shop and those distributed to other outlets.
Ras Al Khaimah - The RAK Municipality has ordered closure of a bakery for an unlimited time for manipulating twice the production and expiry dates of the bread offered for sale. The bakery was fined for the same violation before.
The civic body inspectors, having been alerted about the erring bakery, launched a surprise raid and examined the kitchen, store and display counters.
Khalifa Mohammed Almaktoum, manager of the health and environment department, RAK Municipality, said samples of the bread ready for sale were sent to the central lab of the RAK Municipality for analysis. “These later proved to have expired and unfit for human consumption.”
Investigations showed the owner of the bakery had manipulated the production and expiry dates of the loaves of bread being offered for sale in his shop and those distributed to other outlets in the emirate claiming that they were valid for more than two days, he added.
The bread was baked at night, but the owner marked the dates as one day later, said Almaktoum noting that the validity of all types of bread should not exceed three days.
Almaktoum said the department was alerted by an Emirati national that the bread he bought from the erring bakery was rotten, expired, and unfit for human consumption.
“Inspectors were sent to the bakery and it was proved that expired bread was sold. Almaktoum stated that the bakery lacked cleanliness. “The owner of the bakery has been summoned to the health and environment department for investigation.”
The bakery has been shut down for an unidentified period and its owner has been ordered to pay a hefty fine (unidentified), he said. “He was also instructed to repair and maintain the bakery, and buy new machines to make all kinds of bread.” He said the bakery owner was fined last month for committing the same violation. “He also sold expired bread he bought from another bakery in a nearby emirate,” he added.
“Such a practice is not allowed by the RAK Municipality. It is prohibited to sell any readymade food or any type of bread, from any restaurant, bakery or eatery outside the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Almaktoum indicated.
Munzir bin Shukr, Director-General of the RAK Municipality said the health and environment department, meanwhile, nabbed 153 erring shops during 318 inspection raids launched against 1,750 food outlets in February.
“The municipal inspectors seized 144kg of unfit foodstuff which was later destroyed. Up to 73 shops were fined while 15 were warned and 23 were forced to pledge in writing never to repeat the same violations in the future.”
