Specialists have warned community members against dealing with unlicensed home kitchens that promote their products on social media sites, as these products expose those who consume them to poisoning and malnutrition diseases, while the Department of Economic Development in Dubai confirmed that it constantly monitors such pages and closes them in cooperation with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Dubai Municipality stated that it has established controls and requirements for practicing this activity legally, ensuring consumer safety.
Women who run home kitchens said that they practice this profession to obtain a source of income that helps them live, especially with the presence of a large group in society looking for these services, away from restaurants.
Customers attributed their preference for home meals to their low prices compared to restaurants.
In detail, those dealing with home kitchens in Dubai and Sharjah, Mahmoud Jaber, Ahmed Taha, Ihab Hassan, Bassem Abdul Aziz, said that home kitchens that allow requesting the service via social media provide them with their favorite foods upon request, in the way they prefer, which is what they miss in Traditional restaurants.
They added that their resort to these kitchens – which are usually run by women who do not have a job, and they do it to provide themselves with an income – is due to their desire to obtain meals that they are unable to make themselves, especially since most of them live alone, and the owners of these kitchens sell at reduced prices, pointing out They always have concerns about food safety, but prices and the desire for change usually push them to ignore these concerns.
Emirates Today contacted a number of women who practice home cooking and sell meals upon request, and they confirmed that they practice this profession to obtain a source of income that helps them live, especially with the presence of a large group in society looking for these services, away from traditional restaurants.
The citizen (Umm Shamsa) said that she resorted to the profession of home cooking by selling pastries and some sweets on the social networking site “Instagram”, out of a desire to invest her free time and obtain additional income in addition to her monthly salary, noting that despite the great encouragement that She obtained it from family and friends, and the demand for her products, but it did not last long, because she did not issue an electronic merchant license, because adhering to the requirements of this license is difficult for a home kitchen, noting that hygiene and food safety standards Most women who practice home cooking and sell their meals are keen on it, and no complaints from customers or cases of poisoning have been heard.
For her part, Umm Sultan (of the nationality of an Arab country) stated that she took up home cooking to improve her living situation, especially with the presence of many women looking for home-cooked food, similar to the food of their mothers, as she provides them with the services of choosing the type they desire, Based on prior reservation, and executed the way you like.
She attributed customers’ resort to them to the difference in the method and nature of home cooking from restaurants, whether in terms of taste, cleanliness, or prices, noting that they follow health and safety requirements, more than controlled restaurants.
Umm Saeed, who specializes in cooking Gulf and Arab food, explained that she decided to pursue a career in home cooking, as it is a “pair of livelihood,” noting the need of many segments of society for this type of service, especially with the rise in restaurant prices, pointing out that she provides meals. Varied according to the customer’s request, as well as preparing banquets and open tables at weddings and events, according to request.
She stressed her keenness to carefully ensure the safety of her food, as it is a major part of her reputation and success in the market, despite the fact that municipalities do not supervise it, but all health and safety requirements and standards are available to her.
Umm Muhammad, who specializes in Egyptian meals, confirmed that she receives a large number of requests for special meals from her customers on a daily basis, and her customers are the ones who undertake the advertising for her after the experience, noting that this profession is considered a mutual service between her and the customer. To improve their financial income, they provide them with better meals and much cheaper than restaurants in the market.
On the other hand, the Director of the Medical and Technical Affairs Department at the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Dr. Omar Al-Saqqaf, warned against dealing with unlicensed food sellers, especially those who use social media as a platform to advertise their meals and products, stressing that the fact that these foods are not subject to the supervision of the competent authorities means It may be susceptible to several types of contamination, and therefore those who eat it may be exposed to serious health risks, most notably food poisoning.
He pointed out that licensed restaurants and kitchens are all subject to strict laws related to public safety requirements, and these sellers may lack them, and thus their products are more susceptible to contamination and harm to the health of their consumers.
For her part, Family Medicine Specialist at the Dubai Health Authority, Dr. Nada Al Mulla, explained that dealing with unlicensed food sellers exposes consumers to a huge amount of germs and microbes, which in turn cause various diseases, most notably food poisoning.
She added: “Food safety is affected, starting from the cook’s personal hygiene and his following general safety guidelines, to the tools and surfaces he uses to make food, as well as the correct preservation methods, which require professional methods by the cook.”
She stressed the need to avoid dealing with these people, to avoid serious harm that could land them in emergency departments in hospitals.
While the Director of the Development and Follow-up Department in the Commercial Registration and Licensing Sector at the Department of Economic Development in Dubai, Omar Al Muhairi, stated that “the number of licenses for the e-merchant project for preparing meals has reached 295 licenses since March 2017 until now, and they are subject to specific procedures, which are registration by ID.” UAE, and the merchant pledged to adhere to the requirements of Dubai Municipality and obtain a permit from it, followed by the issuance of a license.
In addition, Noura Abdullah Al Shamsi, head of the Permits and Applied Nutrition Department at the Food Safety Department in Dubai Municipality, stated that “the municipality has set general conditions that must be met when submitting a license application to the Department of Economic Development to obtain an electronic merchant license, which is that the place of business must be The activity is in the city of Dubai, and in a specific place belonging to the license holder, and allowing the Food Safety Department inspector to enter the place where the activity is carried out at home at any time, even on holidays and public holidays, to conduct the necessary inspections, and undertake By facilitating his task provided that the license holder is present or there is someone on his behalf.”
She added, “Among the conditions are also the necessity of adhering to the activity declared in the e-merchant’s license, and that the license holder takes the necessary corrective measures in the event that food inspectors observe high-risk violations on his part, along with his commitment to providing the information and data required of him to manage food safety with all honesty and transparency whenever he is asked to do so, in addition to Not to place objects, materials, equipment or personal belongings in the place where the approved activity is being carried out.
Al Shamsi continued, “The municipality also set conditions that must be implemented after obtaining the license, and before starting the activity, which is obtaining an electronic merchant license issued by the Department of Economic Development in Dubai, and providing the Food Safety Department – Dubai Municipality with a detailed interior decoration plan for the preparation, cooking, preparation, washing, and storage areas.” Food preparation areas must be in a separate place in the home, and the foods desired to be prepared and sold must be identified (menu), so that the technical requirements for the type of activity are provided before it is carried out, and working hours are specified.”
She stated that “the food safety requirements required by the municipality focus on four main axes. The first relates to construction and design, so that the area of the place designated for carrying out the activity is required to be sufficient, and in an appropriate location away from pollution factors, and that the building must be designed to prevent the entry of pests (insects and rodents). Floors, walls and ceilings must be made of smooth, easy-to-clean material, with adequate ventilation, adequate lighting, and places for storing dry, refrigerated and frozen materials, depending on the size and type of activity. It is also not permitted to have bathrooms that open onto food preparation and handling areas, the use of potable water, and the use of self-closing waste containers in an appropriate number and size.”
She added, “The second axis relates to equipment and tools, as sinks for washing and preparing food, washing hands and tools must be made of stainless steel, and separate from food preparation areas, and shelves and levers made of stainless steel must be provided to preserve food materials, as well as the use of gas or fuel.” Electricity or kerosene, and it is not permitted to use diesel or firewood as fuel. All materials used in packing and packaging the food sold by the merchant must be of a type suitable for the food and not affect it.
She continued, “The third axis relates to circulated foodstuffs, as food items must carry a label from known sources, and each item must be stored at the appropriate temperature for it, whether at room temperature, refrigerated (no more than 4°C), or frozen (no more than 4°C). -18°C), in addition to storing in the warehouse in an organized manner, so that it is easily accessible, and all cars or bicycles used to deliver and deliver any food item must be approved by the Food Safety Administration.”
According to Al Shamsi, the fourth axis deals with special conditions for food handlers, as anyone who handles food must be trained in the basics of its safety, and must have a health card, proving that he is free from food-borne diseases, and the necessity of wearing clean and appropriate uniforms while working.
82 “electronic merchant” permits in Dubai from last October until now
The head of the Permits and Applied Nutrition Department in the Food Safety Department in Dubai Municipality, Noura Abdullah Al Shamsi, said, “The municipality has set conditions and controls governing the profession of preparing, preparing and selling food at home, within the (Electronic Merchant) project, which concerns citizens of the country and Gulf Cooperation Council countries only.” Noting that “the municipality issued 82 permits for this type of activity, since last October until now.”
She explained that “citizens of the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council countries residing in the Emirate of Dubai, who hold an electronic commercial license issued by the Department of Economic Development in Dubai, called (Electronic Merchant Licence), under which the license holder is allowed to practice professional and commercial activities, such as preparing sweets, candy, pies and pastries.” And preparing them, and selling snacks, juice, ice cream, and food.”
Al-Saqqaf: “The fact that food (home kitchens) are not subject to control means that they may be vulnerable to contamination.”
Dealers: “Home meals are at low prices, compared to traditional restaurants.”