Case Studies

Qatar Ministry of Public Health

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ was one of the most high-profile events of the last decade, attended by more than 2.5 million people. The Qatar Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) was mandated with ensuring the safety and quality of food supplied throughout the Tournament in hotels, fan zones and stadiums with extensive food service activites in food establishments and facilities. Increased measures needed to be enforced across Safety, Health & Hygiene, and Environmental related areas to ensure the welfare and safety of visitors, players and fans alike during the tournament. Intertek Cristal was selected, as the trusted partner of the Ministry of Public Health and awarded the contract to deliver the inspection, testing and verification program, to ensure a successful event.

The Challenge

With more than 2.5 million workers, volunteers, fans and visitors attending the FIFA World Cup event, the Supreme Committee, together with the Ministry of Health (MOPH), were challenged to ensure health & safety and a risk free environment for all attending this major event, including the stakeholders and players.

In an event of this magnitude tremendous logistical aspects were taken into consideration for food production, delivery, service and waste disposal. Operational practices and safety measures were enforced and monitored, along with proper storage and transportation of food products. It was also important to accommodate for dietary requirements, adulteration, and allergens to prevent cross-contamination and incorrect labeling.

To prevent both foodborne and airborne infections and diseases, and cross-contamination hazards, protocols and procedures needed to be strictly adhered to. With the support and the supervision of the Intertek Cristal Inspection team, all necessary measures across all food service facilities were enforced with potential sources of risk traced, in multiple food production and service outlets.

The Solution

Intertek Cristal deployed both local and internationally outsourced auditors and inspectors to perform food safety and environmental health inspections during a 3 month period, in line with the statutory protocols provided by the Ministry of Public Health, with rigorous control and monitoring procedures for food handling, preparation, and storage processes in addition to checking if hotel facilities were within the scope of the inspection program, customised by MOPH Food Safety and Environmental health departments.

The inspections were carried out across all food outlets in Qatar including fan-zones, catering units, food-trucks, restaurants, commercial kitchens, and hotels. Inspections were subject to a risk assessment approach, based on the compatibility of the inspection level with the potential risk level associated with food and beverage operation and hotel services.