The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has offered consumers advice on what to look out for while buying dates during the holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement, the MEC said that consumers should take care while selecting dates to ensure these are of good quality.
For instance, the dates should not have a foul smell and must be free from insects, whether on the exterior or inside.
Other precautions to be observed while selecting dates are ensuring that they are free of any holes as well as looking out for any signs of having been expired, such as an unusual smell or taste.
Also, the selected dates should be from the harvest of the same year, the ministry has explained.
Besides, the MEC has advised consumers to avoid buying dates that are kept out in the open, exposed to dust and pollutants.
The statement noted that dates are in considerably high demand during Ramadan and the period that precedes it due to its importance in local and religious traditions.
The price of dates during this time of the year ranges between QR10 and QR100 per kg depending on the variety and quality.
There are around 100 varieties of dates with distinct shapes, taste and names, according to the MEC.
Qatar produces around 31,181 tonnes of dates a year from a total of 649,616 palm trees spread across different farms in the country, and imports some 4,369 tonnes annually.
The country has achieved 88.4% self-sufficiency in terms of the availability of dates in the local market.
The Arab world is the top producer of dates and has the largest number of palm trees – 80mn – out of 100mn worldwide, the statement adds.
The ministry has also stressed the health benefits and nutritional advantages of consuming dates during the holy month.
Meanwhile, the MEC has said salespersons and vendors should abide by its regulations, such as issuing detailed invoices, posting price tags and detailed information labels for the products on display, and avoiding the levy of any fees on transactions conducted through debit or credit cards.
Similarly, consumers should insist on getting an invoice for their purchases and check the dates before buying.
