Food Safety in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
(MOPH) The Ministry of Public Health’s Food Safety Department is working assiduously to guarantee food safety and quality during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
MOPH’s Food Safety Department is dedicated to following global best practices and providing all necessary technical and human resources to guarantee that all imported and domestically produced food products sold in Qatar in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 meet the strictest quality assurance requirements.
“Sport For Health” Partnership.
MOPH’s work on food safety helps the World Health Organization and MOPH with the “Health Security” part of their “Sport for Health” partnership.
With a focus on mass gathering protocols inside and outside stadiums, risk assessment, event-based surveillance to safeguard people from infectious disease outbreaks, and risk communications, the Health Security part of this special three-year partnership is dedicated to placing safety and security at the centre of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Food Supply Chain
Potential sources of risk are tracked to ensure that only safe practices are used throughout the entire food chain, from the time of harvest to processing or packaging to transportation to the consumer’s table.
The Ministry of Public Health’s Director of Food Safety, Mrs Wasan Abdulla Al-Baker, stated that the department’s responsibility is to collaborate closely with all pertinent stakeholders to foster and uphold a culture of food safety across all parties involved in the food supply chain.
Mrs Al-Baker said that food safety teams are working to ensure that imported foods meet the highest quality assurance standards as soon as they arrive in Qatar. She continued by saying that their ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, split between the main laboratory and its branches in Hamad Port and Ruwais, make it easier to quickly and efficiently inspect food shipments for safety and clear them for entry into the nation.
Risk Assessment
Inspections are subject to a risk assessment methodology that considers how well the inspection level fits with the potential risk level of every food item in light of the item’s nature, place of origin, and expiration date.
According to Ms Al-Baker, their food safety teams inspect all food outlets in Qatar, including factories, restaurants, supermarkets, and commercial kitchens, around the clock.
Ensuring the Safety of Food
According to Ms Al Baker, governments, producers, and consumers all share responsibility for ensuring the safety of food by adhering to some basic and standard practices, including:
- Keeping clean hands while handling food.
- Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before being cooked or eaten raw.
- Avoid leaving ready-to-eat food that is hot or cold at room temperature for a long time.
- Avoid purchasing exposed foods and foods that have been contaminated in any way.
- Using tools and reading the food label to ascertain the ingredients and expiration date.
- To prevent cross-contamination at buffets, serve food separately from other food items that may contain allergens, avoid touching it while eating from the buffet, and don’t use the same serving utensils for different food items.
How To Face Safety Hazards?
Food safety hazards are renewable, multifaceted, and transboundary; therefore, MOPH’s Food Safety Department has upgraded its surveillance capabilities. It launched “Watheq” to minimise food safety risks. The new system facilitates an advanced food control process based on SOPs subject to international accreditation controls using three electronically linked systems: imported and exported food control, local market food control, and electronic management of food analysis laboratories.