| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 17/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 46 |
| Copyright: Other |
Cruise boats by Matt Bond
Nile cruises improve food safety
The latest hi-tech methods are being used to improve food safety standards on Nile cruises to counter criticism over the number of visitors falling ill.Both the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and the Nile Boat Owners’ Association have been urging operators to install food safety systems to protect passengers from food poisoning.
The move comes after the BBCWatchdog programme criticised food safety standards on Nile cruise boats in January.
Food safety specialist Cristal International, which was brought in to improve standards across the Dominican Republic service industry in early 1998, has reported a big increase in the number of boats signing contracts to install the Cristal programme. The company expects 20% of the Nile’s 290 cruise boats to be covered by the programme within the next three months.
The food safety risk management system includes regular computerised audits of food hygiene and safety standards on each vessel. Figures indicate that between the end of 1997 and last year, food-related illness in the Dominican Republic dropped by a third.
International marketing director David Bungard, who held an emergency meeting with the Egyptian State Tourist Office’s UKregional director Samia Kafagha in January, said:”The Egyptian government and boat owners take this issue very seriously and we believe significant progress is being made in creating a safer environment for visitors to enjoy their cruises on the Nile.”
The company has presented the Cristal Plaque to four Nile cruise boats. The plaque is only made to food service businesses that get a score of 66% or higher on three consecutive auditor visits. The boats were operated by Presidential Nile Cruises, Eastmar, Travcotel Nile Cruise Boats and the Royal Flash Group.
“These scores represent an improvement in the situation and by continuing to work with the Ministry of Tourism and the boat owners we are sure the food safety issue can be tackled,” he said.
Nile: cruises have been criticised for poor safety levels