Qatar University celebrates World Food Safety Day

The Department of Human Nutrition at Qatar University (QU) organised a special event to celebrate World Food Safety Day, an annual campaign organised by the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of food safety and its impact on our health.The event, titled "Preparing for the Unexpected,” emphasised the critical role of preparedness in ensuring food safety as well as QU's ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of food safety and the quality of the country's food supply.Representatives from the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Mazzraty, Widam, Dr Food, and Boecker attended the event.The event also honoured the first batch of students who completed their sub-specialisation in food safety, highlighting the important role played by the university in qualifying specialised cadres in this vital field.Dr Shaikha al-Zeyara, environmental health and food safety adviser at the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health, emphasised the importance of the food safety sub-specialisation programme for Qatar.Dr al-Zeyara noted its vital role in providing graduates with the skills needed to ensure public health and open up career opportunities in ministries, health institutions, schools, food establishments, agriculture, and more.Abdulrahman Hamad al-Mana, chairman of the National Agricultural and Animal Production Group Mazzraty, and Saad Mohammed al-Mana, business development manager at Al Mana Group, emphasised the importance of scientific research, social sharing, and promoting healthy food to ensure food safety.They believe that focusing on scientific research drives innovation, while social sharing fosters awareness and collective accountability.Additionally, their focus on nutritional guidelines helps guide healthy food choices and safeguard food systems. Besides, Mazzraty takes pride in its commitment to these principles and its role in ensuring food safety.