Co-Op Islami brings together experts at 'Knowledge Circle Forum' Food industry

The participants were experts in the food industry, including Dr. Hisham Ahmed Fahmi, Veterinary Specialist, Health Department, Dubai Municipality, Professors and Doctors from UAE University, Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Assistant General Manager (Operations), Co-Op Islami, and Hamed Badawi, Director of the Co-Op Islami factory in Jebel Ali Free Zone.

The forum was split into sessions to discuss the health of chickens, control measures to prevent recent diseases that affected birds and especially chickens, like the bird flu.

Saleh Saeed Lootah, Managing Director, Co-Op Islami, said, "Co-Op Islami is committed to providing the highest quality and we adopt the most stringent checks on all raw material imports. There was good interaction with all concerned authorities, including Dubai Municipality. We have improved cooperation and increased transparency, resulting in better conditions of raw materials and therefore direct benefit to the consumer."

"We opened scientific dialogue with people from backgrounds related to the food industry as well as control experts. The participation of many professionals gave a platform to share knowledge, resulting in improved health and better hygeine and safety of food products", he said.

"The recent diseases that affect animals like Mad Cow and Bird Flu require more cooperation and interaction between the producers and the official control bodies, experts and the professionals to prevent the spread of the diseases in the region.."

"The processes banned in the UAE and GCC region with regard to import of food products from certain disease-affected regions has proven to be effective and the heavy lab control on meat in particular is of exceedingly high standards", he concluded.

Hamed Badawi said, "Co-Op Islami chooses different suppliers for chicken and meat from all around the world, and we always send a delegation from the company to supervise the production process according to company standards, especially Islamic slaughtering procedures."

The Knowledge Circle Forum is the first in a series of such interactive sessions that will be an ongoing priority. There will be extra and special sessions convened as and when the need arises.

Co-Op Islami adopts very strict process in the event of animal diseases being rampant in any one region. Imports from the region are immediately stopped and heavy lab control are implemented on all meats and imports.

Co-Op Islami since its inception 20 years ago has made great strides in its efforts to provide Halal meat products for the benefit of Muslims worldwide.

The successful growth achieved by the UAE company was based on sound marketing and production policies that focused on promoting and delivering high quality Halal food products to all its customers. This commitment has also got the company the Dubai Quality Award 2003 for Trade.

Co-Op Islami will also shortly launch its range of products in the United Kingdom market for the first time, the first step in a strategic plan to target 18 million Muslim customers in Europe.