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Abu Dhabi chef fined $27,000 for out of date yoghurt
A head chef at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi has been fined AED92,000 ($27,000) for storing an out-of-date tub of yoghurt in a kitchen fridge.
Inspectors from Abu Dhabi Municipality found the yoghurt, which the British chef’s lawyers said was one day past its expiry date, during a routine visit about a month ago, according to the National.
The paper said the chef, identified only as PH, has since appealed the verdict, heard on Monday at the Criminal Court of Appeal. It is the second time the defendant has made an appeal.
He was fined AED70,000 for not educating his staff on the emirate’s food expiration laws and AED20,000 for storing expired food. He had to pay a further AED2,000 in municipality fees.
PH told the court: “I am only an employee of the hotel. I should not be the one charged with this. I signed the documents, but I did not understand that I would be the one charged. I am only an employee.”
The judge said the appeal verdict would be given on July 22.
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Comments 1-10 of 10
Posted by worried, dubai, uae on 18 July 2009 at 15:04 UAE time
Imagine if this happens in Emirates Palace, what would be the standard in the neighborhood cafeteria??
Posted by NJ, Dubai, UAE on 16 July 2009 at 13:57 UAE time
I think they have done well. We have recently seen food poisining cases. So these kind to penalties will set an example for others and they will be more careful. Good show before we loose anymore lives.
Posted by Paul, Saudi on 16 July 2009 at 11:32 UAE time
Just shows what lack of common sense the authorites in Abu Dhabi have.Should be a verbal warning to the Hotel.Authorities should check suppliers and their goods,how often they change expiry date on boxes or repack expired food.
Definately show the lack of qualification of the Food safety inspectors and how far they are behind in Abu Dhabi in terms of Food Safety inspections.Check up some Government Labour Camps.Polish your own shoes first.
Posted by Jennifer Baxter, London, England on 16 July 2009 at 10:37 UAE time
Although the intention is good, the effect is disastrous for Abu Dhabi's image. The chef will eventually quit, the staff will be working in fear, the reputation of the place will drop. Overall the Emirates Palace will suffer and Abu Dhabi in turn will suffer.
I get the point, but it should be a symbolic punishment not the man's monthly salary (or so). Anyhow, I don't think we've heard the end of this story.
Posted by Mick, Dubai, UAE on 15 July 2009 at 17:35 UAE time
Ok,
point* - UAE laws are ridiculously strict in insignificant areas and focus should be put where it really deserves it.
counter point* - If you are living in the country, you must abide by the laws, however unreasonable they seem. You live here, so deal with whatever the landscape brings or leave.
You can apply any subject to these to arguments and you have just about every comment to any news story, pretty much.
Posted by Ken, Dubai, UAE on 15 July 2009 at 12:40 UAE time
The chef was acting as a capacity of an employee under an employment agreement with the hotel. The hotel, a limited liability corporation i presume, is THE entity and its employees are merely its arms and legs. The penalty should have been imposed to the hotel, and it is up to the management of the hotel if they feel the hotel have grounds to sue the chef for negligence or damanges for example. It is not a criminal offense where the chef should be charged directly.
Posted by e-chef, dubai, uae on 15 July 2009 at 11:39 UAE time
absurd!
Posted by Aslam, Dubai, uAE on 15 July 2009 at 10:30 UAE time
The negligence on the part of the people in charge of the operation should not be ignored. The amount of fine is exorbitantly high, particularly if the hotel has not been found guilty of similar violations in the past.
For sure it is a case of oversight since how many dirham they could have saved by using one tub of expired yoghurt??
Such fines / penalties are usually imposed on the organization; by no means it should be the individual.
In case of smaller restaurants, cafes etc the outlet would be closed in case of an offence severer than this. Here probably inspectors could not do anything else so they fined the Chef. One wonders if he is being made a scapegoat.
Posted by GM, DXB, UAE on 15 July 2009 at 09:26 UAE time
Its a good move that the inspectors have fined the chef. The law is a law. It would be great this same principle is employed for all the corner restaurants in UAE where the majority of the people have their food. if yopu walk into majority of the restaurants kitchens the conditions is dismal. You could see rats ,cats and all sorts of rodents running around. The the supermarkets should also be checked, you could find that the power is switched off during the night in all refrigerating units where food is stored.
Posted by santu chakraborty, dubai, uae on 15 July 2009 at 09:11 UAE time
I beleave that,chef is responsible for that because chef is the man.he should train his staff wel than it wouldnt happen more.and at the same corner every staff of the kitchen also should take care for the expiry items.fine have to go to every staff of kitchen not only to ex.chef.i strongly beleave that every staff should take care for the goods. i am one of chef from dubai.