Food safety challenges associated with traditional foods in Arabic speaking countries of the Middle East

The Middle East has several traditional food safety practices issues. Serious foodborne outbreaks reported in recent years caused by foods are emerging health threats. The focus of this article is to review some of the major challenges for controlling foodborne outbreaks, traditional food products and food safety practices in the region.Challenges and issues about homemade, restaurant and street food, public health infrastructures and new technologies and rules have also been discussed. Recommendations for appropriate food safety practices such as application of new techniques and management systems to improve traditional food safety are presented.

► We introduce to the Middle East region with a brief historical overview about traditional food products.
► We discussed important foodborne outbreaks in the region.
► Food safety practices, public health infrastructure and food inspection systems.
► New technology and food safety rules in the region.