Confusion reigned on Monday night after a senior official from Dubai Municipality reportedly said there had been a "misunderstanding" over rules regarding food cooked with alcohol.
Khalid Sharif al Awadhi, the director of the food control department, told UAE daily The National that chefs had misinterpreted a circular sent to them last week and that no ban on food containing alcohol was in place.
He told the paper that food containing alcohol could be served, provided it is segregated from other food and clearly labelled.
His comments come despite the circular, which was seen by Arabian Business and HotelierMiddleEast.com, which clearly stated that the display and sale of food containing alcohol was “strictly prohibited”.
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Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Ali, head of food inspection at the Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality, told Arabian Business on Monday that there was a total ban on the use of alcohol in food, but said he did not think it would harm hotels.
Chefs told Arabian Business on Sunday they were expecting to receive a revised circular on Tuesday, but Al Ali ruled this out.
Al Ali said the reason for the clampdown of an existing law issued in 2003 was following a number of complaints from Muslims about alcohol in food.
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