{
  "id": 2729407,
  "title": "Municipality Ministry issues guidelines on selecting and handling fresh fish",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/municipality-ministry-issues-guidelines-on-selecting-and-handling",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-23T05:45:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Peninsula Qatar",
    "slug": "the-peninsula-qatar",
    "url": "https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/23/08/2026/municipality-ministry-issues-guidelines-on-selecting-and-handling-fresh-fish"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Doha, Qatar witnessed a municipal initiative to educate residents on selecting and handling fresh fish. The Ministry of Municipality launched a campaign, sharing practical advice on visual and sensory checks for freshness, best practices for sellers and transporters, and consumer tips to prevent spoilage. Hashtags like #FoodSafety highlighted the campaign on the ministry's X account.\n\nKey indicators of fresh fish involve bright, shiny eyes, red or pink gills, and resilient flesh that springs back when pressed. Signs of poor quality include dull eyes, pale gills, soft flesh, and an unpleasant smell. Sellers are advised to store fish in refrigerators, maintain ice, and use insulated containers for transport. Consumers should purchase fish last, store it in a cooler with ice, and transport it home swiftly.\n\nIllustrated guides in Arabic and English, along with a QR code for further information, were part of the campaign. The hotline (184) and social media channels provided avenues for public inquiries. Ministry officials emphasized these guidelines as part of their ongoing commitment to food safety standards in Qatar, aiming to reduce foodborne illness risks and boost consumer confidence in the local seafood market. Residents were urged to apply these tips during every purchase, and report any concerns through official channels. The initiative underscored the ministry's dedication to protecting public health and maintaining high standards in fish handling throughout the supply chain.",
  "summary": "<p>Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has launched a public awareness campaign to educate residents on how to choose fresh fish, ensure its safety, and handle it properly from purchase to home storage, stressing that the right choices protect public health.</p> <p>In a series of posts shared on its official X account, the ministry provided clear, practical advice under the hashtag…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ministry of Municipality launched campaign on selecting fresh fish.",
    "Guidelines cover visual, sensory checks, and consumer tips.",
    "Initiative aims to reduce foodborne illness risks in Qatar."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Ministry of Municipality's guidelines on selecting and handling fresh fish aim to reduce foodborne illness risks and boost consumer confidence in Qatar's seafood market by promoting safe handling practices throughout the supply chain.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}