MUSCAT– Lulu Hypermarket has received the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification for its stores in Oman. The HACCP, which is a globally recognized Food Safety Management System certification, was certified to stores in Bausher, Darsait, Al Bandar, Markaz Al Bahja, Al Lawami, Mall of Muscat and Sohar. The certification was awarded by the United Registrar of Systems (URS), which is a well-known international certification body, and accredited by Emirates International Accreditation Center (EIAC), with the partnership of Total Quality Consultancy (TQC).

The HACCP accreditation is a proof of Lulu’s commitment to uphold food safety regulations at all times. Good manufacturing practices are regularly implemented at the grassroots level in all food handling sections to ensure that cleaning and sanitization, verification activities, food and water testing, quality control, maintenance and calibration have all been followed up.

All Lulu stores strictly comply with local municipality requirements as well as international standards for the safety of food products, giving immense importance to the safety requirements of its valued customers. In order to establish a food safety culture among workers, regular food safety trainings are also organized for food handlers based on their work categories. Food safety awareness programs have also been regularly conducted among workers. Lulu management also makes sure that all policies and procedures are properly implemented at all levels of the organization. To ensure sustainable food safety assurance, all systems are reviewed on a regular basis through planned and unplanned internal audits and review meetings.

Commenting on the HACCP accreditation, Shabeer K A, Regional Director – Lulu Hypermarkets, Oman, remarked, “As a committed retailer, Lulu’s objective is to produce and distribute safe, wholesome, and palatable food items of utmost quality and hygiene. We have set the highest standards in food safety, quality, traceability, and accountability and constantly adheres to food safety policy to produce and deliver quality and safe products. Good hygiene practices are the backbone of all operations.”

“We will continue to meet HACCP’s extremely high standards of safety and quality control, so that consumers can feel assured while making the right shopping choices,” he added. HACCP is an internationally recognized standard that defines the requirement for effective control of food safety, which is based on the “general principles of food hygiene. The HACCP guideline provides a frame of general principles for producing safe and suitable food for consumption by outlining necessary hygiene and food safety controls to be implemented in production (including primary production), processing, manufacturing, preparation, packaging, storage, distribution, retail, food service operation and transportation of food, and where appropriate, specific food safety control measures at certain steps throughout the food chain.