The Al-Ahsa municipality has made it mandatory for restaurants and outlets to pack hot food items in cartons padded by a special material and lined by PET material, effective next month.

 

The materials that were being used for packaging so far contained aluminum, plastic and cork. Spokesman Khaled Bushail said the municipality staff have started paying visits to food outlets to make sure they implement the latest rule.

 

He said a workshop would be organized to discuss the mechanism to pack hot food items. Mayor Adel Al-Mulhim and the officials of the Directorate of Environmental Health (DEH) will be present for the workshop.

 

Director of DEH at the municipality, Hassan Al-Kharas, said: “Studies and research have shown that if hot food items are packed in aluminum, plastic and cork, they pose a serious health risk. These materials are made from chemicals, which travel into the hot foods and in the diluted fatty elements.” He said the new packaging material is not harmful to health and that it is more environment friendly.

 

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Arab News.