During Ramadan, hundreds of low-income families and labourers benefitted from surplus food donated by supermarkets and hotels through the first location of the UAE Food Bank.

Since its launch back in April, the bank has received 25 tonnes of canned food, bakeries, fruits, juice, chickpeas and jam from six major hypermarkets and food establishments including Spinneys, Choithrams and Lulu.

Located just off Al Khail Road in Al Quoz, the two large refrigerated containers receive an average of 18 boxes a day, each packed with 15kg of packaged and canned food.

A typical day at the food bank

At about 11.30am, Mohammed Ali from Tarahum Charity Foundation arrives at the first UAE Food Bank in Al Quoz in a small van. He fills it with about 10 boxes of fresh bread, rice, chickpeas, jam and juices to be distributed in a labour accommodation in Muhaisna.

"They come back from work by 12pm and will find their lunch ready," says Ali, who comes to the bank almost every day to collect donated items. Tarahum has so far distributed 1,128 boxes of 15kg each to low income families, widows and labourers.

"The food can remain safe for about three to four days and can feed up to 400 people," he said.

Donate your surplus food

As part of the UAE Food Bank initiative, the Dubai Municipality distributed 80 fridges across mosques during Ramadan to allow communities to donate their surplus food. Supervised by volunteers and mosque managers who attended food safety training sessions, the fridges are monitored by municipality inspectors who ensure hygiene practices are followed.

Fridges are available for communities to donate their food for the rest of the year to reduce organic waste that amounts to an average of 196kg per person annually.

Safety instructions are posted on the fridge in Arabic and English. Residents are not allowed to donate raw or expired food. Ready to eat food must be packed in clean and closed designated containers.

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Abdullah Badarani, senior food safety officer at Dubai Municipality, who supervises the site, told Khaleej Times that donated food reaches at least 300 people in need on a daily basis.

The UAE Food Bank, which was announced in January, aims to provide food for the less fortunate while reducing food wastage that is estimated to cost the UAE about Dh13 billion a year.

Twenty-nine other food banks are scheduled to open across the UAE, with 15 to be launched by the end of 2017. A location will be opened at Al Awir Fruit and Vegetables market, and another one in Al Muhaisnah by the end of next month.

Badarani noted that the bank receives hypermarkets' canned food that is nearing their expiry date as customers tend to shy away from buying them. Fresh bakeries are distributed on the same day.

"Food nearing its expiry date or experiencing slight damage or fold in its sticker or package tend to be disposed although they are still safe to use," said Badarani. "Instead of wasting it, we contact charity associations which can give it to those in need."

The municipality has partnered with a logistics company that sends a supervised truck to collect the produce from an interested food establishment or hotel and delivers it to the bank.

Once food items arrive, they are inspected by Badarani and another colleague who takes the night shift depending on the amount of the food.

"We don't accept any food that comes in. We check its safety, packaging and expiration dates, which differ depending on type of food," said Badarani.

After safely storing and stocking the food in boxes, Badarani then contacts charity associations to pick up the food items and distribute it to the needy. He noted that food is accepted only from authorised hotels and food establishments.

"The key behind the bank is to provide a safe process of donation under the government's supervision to ensure that no items are polluted or damaged on the way to the needy," said Badarani.

The municipality has currently partnered with 20 hotels and hypermarkets and 10 charity associations.

Source: .khaleej Times