Oman confronts food safety issues

Oman is trying to back up recent rapid growth in its F&B market by improving the country's food safety record, according to industry insiders.

The Sultanate introduced a new ‘Menu-Safe' system to improve food safety through research and training and has drafted F&B professionals from across the world to support the project.

One professional championing Menu-Safe is British food safety expert Professor Eunice Taylor, who is currently holding workshops and training events in Muscat to promote the programme.

Speaking exclusively to Caterer Middle East, Taylor said tourists needed to have confidence that restaurants were serving safe food.

"Just one outbreak could  have devastating consequences for the Omani tourist market," she warned.

"While there is generally a good record for food safety in the Middle East, it is important that businesses of all sizes demonstrate that they are managing food safety effectively and at all times."

So far, more than 50 industry professionals, ranging from Omani police to Ministry of Tourism officers, have attended the Menu-Safe workshops and lectures.

Fran Collison, general manager of Muscat's Food Safety Consultancy and supporter of Menu-Safe, commented: "We must show the world that Muscat can be a regional and global leader in tourism, helping to protect consumers from the nightmare holiday stories that food poisoning conjures up.

"There is little legislation within the country, and although basic inspections take place, food inspectors are poorly trained at present," Taylor continued. "Also, the infrastructure of some of the supply chains and services make this a difficult task.

"Food businesses are really in need of a workable solution, so we are hoping to fill that need and make Oman a leader in revolutionary food safety management."

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