Dubai residents have been walking to champion several causes. A new walkathon that will be held today will let them spread the word about the importance of food safety and winners walk away with attractive prizes from the hospitality industry.

The first prize is a one-night stay for two persons in a deluxe suite at the Burj Al Arab. The second prize is a two-night stay for two persons in a deluxe room in the Jumeirah Emirates Tower and the third prize is a one-night stay for two persons in a deluxe room in the Jumeirah Etihad Tower in Abu Dhabi.

The latest walkathon to hit the city is part of the Health and Food Safety Festival a new initiative of the Dubai Municipality being launched as part of the Innovation Week and to mark the World Food Day and National Sports Day.

More than 1000 hygiene officers restaurant managers and other food safety professionals along with the members of the public and Dubai Municipality officials are expected to take part in the walkathon.

"Dubai has been hosting walkathons for diabetes breast cancer and other causes ... So we thought why not for food safety which is something that everyone has to deal with in their daily lives" said Shagufta M. Zubair food awareness officer at the Food Safety Department of the municipality.

The festival will be an innovative way to spread awareness about food safety among the public she told Khaleej Times.

"We are combining our programme for the World Food Day that got over in October because everyone at the department was busy organising our 10th Dubai International Food Safety Conference last month" she explained.

The Health and Food Safety Festival is a two-day event which will continue in the years to come.

On the first day on Thursday the municipality hosted school students at the Creek Park. The event included educational programmes exhibitions and a painting contest on the theme of food safety.

The first three winners of the painting contest will receive Dh3000 Dh2000 and Dh1000 respectively at a special ceremony to be held in December said Shagufta.

Safe Food Safe Future

The walkathon to be held under the slogan "Safe Food Safe Future" will be the main event on the second day. It will start at 8am from Gate 3 of the Zaabeel Park.

It will be inaugurated by Saeed Hareb secretary-general of the Dubai Sports Council.

Those wanting to participate can register for free on http://www.digitalcem.com/eventcel.php or on-site prior to the event. T-shirts carrying the logo and slogan of the festival and other giveaways will be distributed to participants.

Besides gold coins await the winners of a food safety quiz to be held as part of the festival.

There will also be sessions on nutrition and food security as well. University students will present cultural events and entertainment programmes.

"We hope that this will help develop a safe food culture among the public here ... We hope it will be a success when people get to mingle and talk about the subject of food safety and see exhibitions related to it" said Shagufta.

Sajila Saseendran