Lara Salloum
Dubai,UAE
Summary
A detail-oriented Food Safety and Sustainability Manager, with over 12 years of experience, committed to fostering a culture of safety and sustainability, ensuring that food products are not only safe and high-quality but also produced with respect for our planet. Passionate about creating a healthier and more sustainable food system, by integrating sustainability into every aspect of the food production process, from sourcing ingredients responsibly to minimizing waste and reducing carbon footprint and creating a positive impact in our environment My proactive approach includes collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement in food safety and sustainability initiatives.
Overview
3
3
Languages
1
1
Certification
20
20
years of professional experience
Work history
Hygiene & Sustainability Manager
Raffles Hotel Dubai
Dubai
2024.01 - 2026.07
- Implementing food safety management strategy and plans, including resource and systems to integrate within the property's long-term strategy.
- Developing, directing & implementing the designed food safety & hygiene standard.
- Ensuring food safety & hygiene compliance objectives are met.
- Verifying all the documentation related to food safety standards so that they are compliant to set objectives.
- Updating necessary changes in standards (internally and externally initiated) and on performance against standards.
- Participating to ensure the layouts of new outlets to ensure compliance with the food safety standard & the law.
- Developing SOPs of food safety & hygiene standard for operation.
- Responsible for HACCP / other system certification.
- Liaising with Dubai Food Control Authorities & other regulatory bodies to ensure legal compliance.
- Liaising with third party laboratories to ensure microbiological sampling from the kitchen facilities.
- Investigating, analyze guest related food poisoning complaints and recommend corrective actions.
- Developing Supplier Quality Assurance programme in liaison with purchasing department, and performing Supplier Audits
- Certified & approved trainer from Food Control Department to conduct in-house training.
- Conducting Basic Food Hygiene Training & refresher training to staff.
- Conducting Person In Charge training.
- Leading the sustainability efforts of the Hotel with the General Manager and Hotel Manager overseeing the activities and projects.
- Conducting environmental audits to ensure compliance at all times with the Raffles Brand Guidelines.
- Liaising between Corporate Office and the Hotel for matters relating to Sustainability.
- Coordinating and communicates with other Departments on new directions and initiatives and ensures compliance and adherence to standards.
- Ensuring that the Hotel is compliant with the standards and is certified by an accredited Sustainability certifying body.
- Report the Hotel’s sustainability and Environmental performance and data both internally and externally as required, this includes both internal and external stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, and community organizations.
- Establishing Sustainability partnerships with external organizations, companies, and local government units whenever feasible, by identifying potential partners, initiate contact, explore collaboration opportunities, create a partnership agreement, and continuously monitor and communicate progress towards shared Sustainability goals.
- Identifying areas of improvement in regard to the organization’s Sustainability practices and improve current practices and develop/ implement new practices:
- Energy and water efficiency improvements
- Sustainable F&B (food waste management, food sourcing, food trends)
- Plastic pollution reduction
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Support to local communities & charities
- Biodiversity protection
- Train staff at all levels on environmental issues and good practices
Sr. Quality Assurance Specialist
Kitopi
2021.09 - 2022.04
- Overseeing the Food Safety of all Central Kitchens in the UAE.
- Liaising between 3rd party service providers (pest control, grease trap, waste-water collection, approved chemical supplier, hood cleaning contract, First Aid & Firefighting training for the staffs etc.) and the kitchens.
- Developing and implementing the SOPs for the best-in-class practices.
- Mitigating the potential Food safety, Health & Safety risks in the work areas.
- Complain investigation, possible root cause and preventive / corrective action to prevent the recurrence.
- Reviewing the preparation process of any new brands, their ingredients, recipes and their impact on our existing operations (should not pose threat to FS).
- Conducting inductions and train the new staff on the basics of food safety.
- Reviewing of shelf life and assisting in conducting validation studies if an extended shelf life has been requested;
- Supplier evaluation program (collecting the necessary docs from the suppliers, verifying them and then visiting their premises to ensure they have FS system in place before procuring the items (especially high risk).
Sr. Food Safety Specialist
Abela & Co
2018.04 - 2021.05
- Conducting routine inspections and internal audits in food production and service facilities to evaluate the Food Safety Practices and to ensure compliance and conformity to company's Food Safety Management System, as well as manage third party audits.
- Liaising with the production, operations to communicate the updated food safety requirements related to local regulations, company standards or public announcements.
- Investigating food complaints from clients/customers or food safety related issues and implement necessary corrective actions.
- Identifying key areas of risk in various food operations for early remedial actions.
- Monitoring and verifying activities to ensure that all products coming in and out of the facility meet food safety standards.
- Ensuring compliance with the regulations, licensing conditions and codes of practice.
- Conducting Food Safety Orientation training for the newly recruited staffs in the company.
- Providing in-house training for the food handlers (approved trainer by Dubai Municipality).
- Providing in-house training for the supervisors (approved trainer by TSI Quality Services to provide PIC Level 2 and 3 training.
- Reviewing & updating HACCP and ISO 22000 procedures, policies and SOP's.
Microbiological Food Testing
Patchi
2007.01 - 2009.12
- GMP Monitoring.
- Microbiological Analysis of Raw Materials, Semi-Finished Products and Final Products (TVC, TC, FC, Staph.
- Aureus, Salmonella, Yeast and Molds).
- Environmental Monitoring Techniques (Air Sampling-Finger Printing-Swabbing from Production Areas and Equipment).
- Calibration and Validation of Microbiology Lab Equipment.
- 2007-July Al Baba Sweets / Lebanon 2007-November Quality Controller / microbiological food testing.
Education
Masters - Quality Management- Agro Food Sciences and Technology
Lebanese University
Lebanon 2007.01 -
BS - Laboratory Sciences
Lebanese University
Lebanon 2005.01 -
A” Levels - undefined
Lebanon 2000.01 -
Certification
- 2026 Sustainable Business certificate- Cornell University
- 2025 CIEH Food Safety Training course
- 2023-Sustainable Tourism Course Dubai Way
- 2017-FSMS (ISO 22000:2005) Lead Auditor Training (IRCA reference A17873) TUV / UAE
- 2014- PIC Train the trainer. TSI Quality Services Level 2 and Level 3 PIC Courses/UAE
- 2013- Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering (with Merit) Apex /UAE
- 2010- ISO22000 Food Safety Management Systems and Internal Audits, IQMS. /UK.
- Level 3 in Supervising Food Safety in Catering, The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health/UK
- 2014- Food Safety Culture - Workshop by Frank Yiannas
LANGUAGE
English – Excellent
Arabic – Native
French –Excellent
Accomplishments
- A Gold Grade DM Inspection Year 2024, 2025,2026
- Leader of the Quarter 2025, Raffles Dubai
- Achieved GOLD TIER-Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp year 2023
- Awarded by Global ESG Awards for shaping resilient sustainable future in the UAED, 2025
- Leader of the Quarter 2022. Raffles Dubai
Timeline
Hygiene & Sustainability Manager
Raffles Hotel Dubai
2024.01 - 2026.07
Sr. Quality Assurance Specialist
Kitopi
2021.09 - 2022.04
Sr. Food Safety Specialist
Abela & Co
2018.04 - 2021.05
Masters - Quality Management- Agro Food Sciences and Technology
Lebanese University
2007.01 -
Microbiological Food Testing
Patchi
2007.01 - 2009.12
BS - Laboratory Sciences
Lebanese University
2005.01 -
A” Levels - undefined
2000.01 -