Latest news with #FoodSafetyandQualityCentre
Observer
21-04-2025
- Health
- Observer
Global experts gather in Muscat to tackle food safety challenges
MUSCAT: The 7th Oman International Food Safety and Quality Conference and Exhibition kicked off on Sunday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, drawing more than 500 specialists from 32 countries. The event features the presentation of 26 scientific papers focused on advancing food safety and quality standards. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr Kamil bin Fahad al Said, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. In his keynote address, Dr Hussein bin Samh al Masroori, Director General of the Food Safety and Quality Centre at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, emphasised Oman's growing strategic focus on food safety as part of its national vision to enhance public health and quality of life. He noted the Ministry's efforts—together with public and private sector partners—to build an integrated and sustainable food safety system, raise public awareness, and keep pace with global developments in food technology. "This conference serves as a strategic platform for shaping policies, launching initiatives, and exchanging ideas with regional and international experts to strengthen Oman's food safety infrastructure," he said. Professor Samuel Godefroy, President of the International Union for Food Science and Technology and CEO of the World Organisation for Food Science and Legislation, described the event as a vital venue for global collaboration on the challenges facing agricultural and animal production. He stressed the importance of leveraging scientific and technological advancements to boost food safety. The three-day conference is structured around five key themes: 1. Modernising food safety, quality control, and supervision 2. Combating food fraud and verifying authenticity 3. Advancing food analysis and regulatory techniques 4. Enhancing risk assessment for regulatory decision-making 5. Promoting a green food supply chain Alongside the conference, an exhibition features leading food companies showcasing innovative products and safety solutions. The event is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, in cooperation with other government agencies and private sector partners. Also in attendance were Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, alongside several ministers, undersecretaries, diplomats, and senior officials. — ONA
Observer
17-04-2025
- Science
- Observer
Food Safety Conference from April 21
Muscat: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR), represented by the Food Safety and Quality Centre, in cooperation with the government agencies concerned with food safety, is organising the 7th Oman International Food Safety and Quality Conference at the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre (OCEC) from April 21 to 23. The three-day high level conference and discussion sessions will see a number of prominent local and international speakers and experts from several government and private agencies from across the world kick start discussions and debates on special topics on the efforts and challenges facing countries in their quest to ensure food safety and quality, according to Eng Yaqoub bin Khalfan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for Fisheries, Chairman of the Main Committee for Food Safety Week. On the first day, speech on 'Addressing resilience of food systems globally — the indispensable transformation', will be organised while the key topic of 'Modernising food safety and quality control and oversight — Role of new technologies and Artificial Intelligence' will be discussed as part of the second session. This session will review the role of modern technology in developing innovative solutions that enhance food safety and quality, including but not limited to Modern traceability systems, novel methods used to improve production, storage and distribution processes, as well as using smart sensing technologies that support rapid detection of contaminants The third session on 'Food Fraud' will be dedicated to reviewing methods and approaches supporting efforts to ascertain authenticity of food products, inputs such as pesticides and processes, thus contributing to the protection of consumers' health and confidence in food products available for sale. 'Such efforts are also associated with the reduction of the rate of food loss and waste; and would contribute positively to national economies overall. This session will review food quality management processes and analytical methods used to verify food authenticity and to detect adulterated or counterfeit ingredients, including Mass Spectrometry-based techniques, Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Genetic analysis and sensory or organoleptic tests,' said Dr Hussain, Director General of Food Safety and Quality Center.
Observer
16-04-2025
- Health
- Observer
Oman hosts 7th Food Safety Conference from April 21
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR), represented by the Food Safety and Quality Centre, in cooperation with the government agencies concerned with food safety, is organising the 7th Oman International Food Safety and Quality Conference at the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre (OCEC) from April 21 to 23. The three-day high level conference and discussion sessions will see a number of prominent local and international speakers and experts from several government and private agencies from across the world kick start discussions and debates on special topics on the efforts and challenges facing countries in their quest to ensure food safety and quality, according to Eng Yaqoub bin Khalfan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for Fisheries, Chairman of the Main Committee for Food Safety Week. On the first day, speech on 'Addressing resilience of food systems globally — the indispensable transformation', will be organised while the key topic of 'Modernising food safety and quality control and oversight — Role of new technologies and Artificial Intelligence' will be discussed as part of the second session. This session will review the role of modern technology in developing innovative solutions that enhance food safety and quality, including but not limited to Modern traceability systems, novel methods used to improve production, storage and distribution processes, as well as using smart sensing technologies that support rapid detection of contaminants The third session on 'Food Fraud' will be dedicated to reviewing methods and approaches supporting efforts to ascertain authenticity of food products, inputs such as pesticides and processes, thus contributing to the protection of consumers' health and confidence in food products available for sale. "Such efforts are also associated with the reduction of the rate of food loss and waste; and would contribute positively to national economies overall. This session will review food quality management processes and analytical methods used to verify food authenticity and to detect adulterated or counterfeit ingredients, including Mass Spectrometry-based techniques, Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Genetic analysis and sensory or organoleptic tests," said Dr Hussain, Director General at the Quality Assurance at the Ministry, adding, "Determining food authenticity is the process of verifying the validity and truthfulness of claims related to the characteristics or the source of food ingredients and products." A large group of experts, academicians, think tanks and specialists in food safety, security and other areas of the food sector will join the experts from Oman over the three days brainstorming the challenges and other aspects of food safety, the MoAFWR informed.
Observer
25-03-2025
- Health
- Observer
SWEET POISON
Muscat, March 24 With Eid Al Fitr approaching, children's joy multiplies, and one of the most prominent aspects of this joy is indulging in sweets, which are considered an essential part of Eid traditions. Their happiness with sweets isn't limited to what's offered at home but rather what they buy which are often high in sugar and fats. However, behind this high demand lies important questions regarding the safety of these products and their impact on children's health especially given the variety available and the lack of consumer awareness among some families. Dr Hussain al Masroori, Director-General of Food Safety and Quality Centre, emphasised the crucial difference between 'safe food' and 'healthy food', pointing out that the issue doesn't lie in the type of food itself, but rather in the pattern, manner and rate of consumption. He stated that most sweets available in Omani markets are safe in terms of food safety being free from physical, chemical and microbiological contaminants but whether they are healthy or not is a subjective matter that varies from person to person. He explained that a person with diabetes, for instance, cannot consume the same quantity or type of sweets as a healthy individual. 'At the centre, we stress that all products entering Oman undergo inspection and comply with standard specifications, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are healthy,' he said. Dr Al Masroori spoke about the procedures followed to ensure the safety of both imported and locally produced sweets. He explained that the Food Safety and Quality Centre is responsible for ensuring that all imported food products comply with the approved standards in the Sultanate of Oman. He noted that this task is carried out through a series of inspection and examination stages at border entry points, starting with the verification and review of accompanying documents — foremost among them the health certificate issued by the regulatory authority in the country of origin, which serves as an initial guarantee of the product's safety. visual inspection The procedures also include a visual inspection of the products to check transportation conditions, the accuracy of food labelling, the integrity of the packaging and the overall condition of the shipment. If any concerns or suspicions arise, a decision is made either to reject the shipment or to grant conditional release, which involves collecting samples for necessary laboratory tests. He added that the centre also relies on a risk assessment programme, which involves randomly sampling shipments even those that appear visually sound to ensure the highest levels of consumer safety. Regarding locally produced products, he pointed to the ongoing collaboration with the municipal sector. The centre, in coordination with regulatory authorities in municipalities and the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, monitors food establishments. 'There is continuous coordination between the food safety and quality departments across various governorates, municipal departments and the Consumer Protection Authority to conduct joint inspection campaigns that ensure the safety of products in circulation,' he said, adding that if non-compliant products are found at entry points, immediate action is taken either rejecting or destroying the products. When buying sweets for children, Dr Al Masroori urged parents to distinguish between a safe product and a healthy one, clarifying that all products entering the Omani market or produced locally must be safe according to regulations and inspections, but that doesn't mean they are beneficial for all children from a health perspective. He noted that some products contain high levels of sugar, calories, or oils which may not be suitable for some children, especially those with chronic illnesses or allergies. He stressed the importance of reading the nutrition label on the packaging to understand ingredients and sugar and calorie content. natural foods He also emphasised the importance of considering children's age-specific needs, saying: 'A three-year-old child's consumption should not match that of an older child. It's important to determine the appropriate daily or weekly amount. Eating sweets is not necessarily harmful if done in moderation, but natural foods remain the better option, especially for children,' he Alya al Kindi, an emergency medicine specialist, pointed out that excessive sweet consumption can cause health issues in children, even though they need a moderate amount of sugar as an energy source. Among the most common issues is tooth decay caused by acid buildup from bacteria. Sweets also contribute to weight gain and obesity due to their high caloric content, increasing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. She highlighted that high sugar intake can also weaken the immune system, cause digestive disturbances and lead to mood swings and energy crashes. Dr Alya added that excessive sugar consumption can disrupt healthy eating habits and impair calcium absorption and bone health. She also warned against certain additives like caffeine, which may cause insomnia and anxiety in children. Dr Alya stressed the importance of educating families about the harms of excessive sweet consumption during Eid and encouraged practical steps to reduce children's intake. She advised limiting the availability of sweets at home and offering healthy alternatives like fruits and natural juices. She also underscored the importance of reading nutritional information to avoid exceeding the recommended daily sugar limit. She emphasised the need to regulate when sweets are consumed and avoid offering them as a reward, as this reinforces psychological attachment to them. Additionally, she recommended promoting healthy behaviours such as brushing teeth after meals and staying physically active during Eid. Regarding the ingredients used in sweets, Dr Alya advised avoiding products with harmful additives like artificial colours, sweeteners and preservatives — including tartrazine, aspartame, sodium benzoate and hydrogenated fats — due to their potentially negative effects on children's health. She noted that the maximum recommended sugar intake for children aged 2 to 18 should not exceed 25 grammes per day, but recent studies have shown that over 81 per cent of children exceed this limit, raising concerns about early-onset obesity and increased body mass index. When buying sweets for children, parents need to distinguish between a safe product and a healthy one. All products entering the Omani market or produced locally must be safe according to inspections regulation, but that doesn't mean they are beneficial for all children from a health perspective.
Muscat Daily
24-03-2025
- Health
- Muscat Daily
Warning issued over unsafe Tahini
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – The Food Safety and Quality Centre has issued a warning to consumers regarding the Althiqa brand Tahini, urging them to avoid consumption and dispose off the product immediately. The warning comes after the detection of titanium dioxide (E171), a substance prohibited in food products under Ministerial Resolution No. 2023/11. The affected product, sourced from Anbar Market Control Centres. It comes in a 400-gram package and has expiry dates of March 2024 and March 2026. The batch number is ON110022, and the product originates from the United Arab Emirates. Authorities have confirmed that the product has been withdrawn from the market to prevent further distribution. Consumers who have already purchased the tahini are strongly advised to dispose of it safely and avoid consumption. Those with concerns are encouraged to contact the Food Safety and Quality Centre for further guidance.
