Jamaican authorities celebrate World Food Safety Days with a week-long series of events

A week-long series of World Food Safety Days events in Jamaica began on Sunday, May 30, with a church service held at the Webster’s Memorial United Church.

Hon. Floyd Green, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries recorded a video address where he spoke about the importance of safe food for food security, the efforts of the government to improve food safety and the theme of the celebrations in the country “Safe food now for a healthy Jamaica”.

On June 4, the authorities held a webinar on food safety policies and regulations, where the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries presented about plant quarantine and produce inspection and veterinary services; Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce followed with a discussion on food storage, standards and compliance; and Ministry of Health and Wellness discussed animal and environment health.

On June 7, the National Codex Committee held an online celebration service to observe the day under the theme, Safe Food Now For a Healthy Jamaica, with the participation of Hon. Audley Shaw, the Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce and Hon. Floyd Green, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Marisa Caipo from FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson from Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, and Dr Margarita Corrales, Food Safety Coordinator at the Pan American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA-PAHO/WHO). The celebration included behind the scenes visit to a food business, Island Grill, where Clive Harris, Quality Assurance Manager, explained how the company invests into food safety.

Jamaica CVM Television ran a special interview on June 7 with Dr. Linnette Peters, Director of Veterinary Public Health at the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Dr Peters explained that safe food means that food production, processing and retail is fit for human consumption and doesn’t cause illness and underlined that each person has responsibility to ensure the food they consume is save, while government plays significant role in regulating the way the food is handles and served, including food handlers clinic and monitoring and inspection of facilities that process food to ensure the hygiene and safety.

During the entire week food safety promotional materials were shared on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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To learn about other events and activities which took place, please visit the Instagram account of World Food Safety Day Jamaica: https://www.instagram.com/wfsdjamaica/

The recording of the online celebration service on June 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAKE70oJ3tk

Jamaica CVM Television segment about World Food Safety Day Jamaica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT33Oq9ZFGI

PBC Jamaica TV coverage of World Food Safety Day in Jamaica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRswoTs99FY

Video address of Hon. Floyd Green, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILV3e25r_eE