McDonald’s showcases high food safety standards at DIFSC 2011

Proving once more its dedication to food safety and quality, McDonald’s showcased its commitment to high food safety management standards through its participation in the sixth Dubai International Food Safety Conference. The conference, held at the World Trade Center from the 27^th of February to the 1^st of March 2011, aims at providing delegates with a good understanding of current food safety issues, Food Safety Management Techniques and the best practices followed in the food industry. The main objective of the conference is to provide a platform to resolve food safety issues in the GCC region and offer opportunities for development in the industry.

Dedicated to improving food safety practices in the region, McDonald’s featured speaker Dane Bernard, Vice President, Food Safety and Quality, Keystone Foods. Bernard discussed topics concerning food safety such as Animal Welfare, Biosecurity, Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Agricultural Practices and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) in his address entitled Managing Your Supply Chain for Food Safety in a Global Environment. Topics high on McDonald’s safety priorities were also covered at the conference such as joint programs with Dubai Health Authority, CDC, USA and WHO, as well as conducting effective food inspections and audits enhancing training skills and poultry and meat safety.

“Throughout the years, McDonald’s and Keystone Foods have worked closely together to ensure the best safety and quality procedures are always followed. McDonald’s has been proactive and progressive whenever it comes to food safety approaches, always requesting the latest systems are put in place and continuously exhibiting an exemplary dedication to food safety management. It is companies such as this that move the industry forward resulting in greater food safety worldwide,” said Bernard.

“At McDonald’s, we consider ourselves leaders in food safety and quality. We do not and will not ever compromise on food safety and as such we work with the world’s top experts to maintain our high food safety standards. In this spirit, we participate in DIFSC 2011 not only to keep ourselves up-to-date with the latest in food safety management, but also to contribute our share from our valuable experience in the field. As the current Vice President Food Safety and Quality for Keystone Foods for nine years and the former Vice President Food Safety for the National Food Processors Association for 28 years, Bernard brings with him a wealth of experience certain to be of value to all interested in stringently following food safety,” said Dr. Habib M’Nasria, Quality Assurance Director, McDonald’s Middle East Development Company. 

All McDonald’s meat is 100% pure and halal and its origins can always be traced back to a trusted farm. All McDonald’s vegetables are cleaned to guarantee a safe and crispy crunchy taste and all its dairy products consist of an appetizing blend of pasteurized dairy, monitored for safety and quality. McDonald’s operating philosophy is rooted in always doing the right thing. As such, McDonald’s only works with farmers, bakers, and food distributors who meet the same high social, environmental and animal welfare standards that the company follows. 

Dubai International Food Safety Conference is organized with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Water in the UAE, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, U.A.E University and the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). Keystone Foods is a worldwide supplier of beef, poultry, and fish products to the food service industry with production facilities in Asia, Europe and the US.  With more than 30 dedicated storehouses and logistics centers located across the globe, Keystone Foods is also a provider of custom logistics services. As a major supplier to McDonald's, Keystone serves over 28,000 restaurants. McDonald’s is dedicated to providing customers quality products prepared with the highest safety standards.