Dubai Municipality's food control department's food health inspection officer Mohammad Khaild Saeed.
The Dubai Municipality has firm regulations in place for excess food at events catering and buffets, with the organisation partnering with charities to ensure any salvaged food doesn't go to waste.
Dubai Municipality's food control department's food health inspection officer Mohammad Khaild Saeed said during a roundtable with Caterer Middle East that the regulation is that hot food meant for immediate consumption can be eaten up to two hours after its salvaged, and cold food has a four hours limit.
He added that the organisation launched a campaign to collect excess food to distribute it to those in need in 2008. The municipality partnered with local charities to reduce food wastage and help those who needed it.,
Three approved charities are allowed to collect excess food from events in specially-equipped vehicles - with hot-holding and freezing capabilities - to serve to the needy.
He said: "If something is risky, we don’t give it to them, we prefer to discard those. We recover the food, segregate the food – perishable or high risk food we throw, but low-risk food we normally distribute to needy people."
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When asked about wastage levels, Abela & Co corporate chef Colin Campbell said it all depends on the setup of the venue doing the catering. He said: "You have waste control sheets and supervisors and captains at every location to monitor and make the necessary adjustments."
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