Ministry debunks rumours about contaminated Australian melons in UAE

  DUBAI - The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has confirmed that markets in the UAE are free of listeria-contaminated Australian rock melons or cantaloupe. The confirmation comes in response to recent rumours circulating on social media. On March 5, MOCCAE issued a decision to withdraw and remove Australian rock melons from the UAE’s markets following an outbreak of listeria that has killed at least two people in Australia. Listeriosis is caused by eating food contaminated with a bacterium called Listeria monocytogenes. Although it is an uncommon illness, it can be deadly if it causes blood poisoning or meningitis. Majd Al Herbawi, Food Safety Director at MOCCAE, said: “The decision comes in the wake of what has been circulated in international newspapers regarding the listeria-contaminated Australian rock melons. The Ministry has been closely following the updates of the outbreak.” Al Herbawi indicated that the Ministry, along with Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and municipal authorities in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, are monitoring the markets to ensure that no listeria-contaminated food reaches the UAE market. She added: “The Ministry has also directed food safety regulatory authorities at UAE entry points to prevent the entry of rock melon shipments originating from Australia, unless they are declared contaminant-free.” MOCCAE assures consumers that the rock melons found in the UAE’s markets are safe to consume, as lab test results show they are free of any contamination. The Ministry continues to tighten procedures on inbound rock melon shipments from Australia. GAD/Expat MediaJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGcGFnZWFkMi5nb29nbGVzeW5kaWNhdGlvbi5jb20lMkZwYWdlYWQlMkZqcyUyRmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlLmpzJTIyJTIwYXN5bmMlM0QlMjIlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElMjAlM0MlMjEtLSUyMGluLWFydGljbGUlMjBhZCUyMC0tJTNFJTBBJTIwJTNDaW5zJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJhZHNieWdvb2dsZSUyMiUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIyZGlzcGxheSUzQSUyMGJsb2NrJTNCJTIyJTIwZGF0YS1hZC1jbGllbnQlM0QlMjJjYS1wdWItNTAwNjI0MTU4MzU4MTg0OSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtYWQtc2xvdCUzRCUyMjg1MjYwOTM2MTElMjIlMjBkYXRhLWFkLWZvcm1hdCUzRCUyMmF1dG8lMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZpbnMlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlM0UlMkYlMkYlMjAlM0MlMjElNUJDREFUQSU1QiUwQSUyOGFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlJTIwJTNEJTIwd2luZG93LmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlJTIwJTdDJTdDJTIwJTVCJTVEJTI5LnB1c2glMjglN0IlN0QlMjklM0IlMEElMkYlMkYlMjAlNUQlNUQlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEE=