The central food laboratory at the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has seen a 15 percent increase in the number of samples tested last year, following a rapid increase in the number of outlets selling food items in the country, according to a senior SCH official.
The Department receives samples of food products from various sources to conduct laboratory tests to detect any suspected contamination or poisoning and to ensure they comply with the Qatari standards and specifications.
Rana Sultan Fakhroo, head of the Central Laboratory Department at SCH told Al Sharq that the department had been constantly upgrading capabilities to meet the new requirements. It brought 27 state-of-the-art equipment last year.
Established 30 years ago, the department currently has four laboratories functioning under it—chemical, water, microbiology and radiation. There is also a quality control department that follows up on the test results. The department tests 30 to 50 food samples daily collected from various entry points to the country, companies, restaurants, school canteens etc.
If detailed tests are required, the samples will be sent to specialised laboratories, said Fakhroo.
The whole procedures would take about a week, after which the department will issue a report to the authorities concerned. If the samples are found to be contaminated or containing harmful substances all the remaining stocks will be recalled from the market.
Municipal inspectors also collect random samples from the market that will be sent to the central laboratory for quality tests. If there are reports or rumours circulating about the potential health hazards of any food product, either in Qatar or abroad, samples of such products will be collected from the market and sent to the central laboratory for detailed tests. The authorities will decide what action has to be taken based on the test results. The reports issued by the Department is considered final.
All kinds of food products are tested at the department’s laboratories including packed food and canned food.
The Peninsula