Starting this week, food handlers across the island can expect to get a visit from
someone attached to the Food Safety Division as officials within the department
are ramping up protocols.
Deputy Chief Health Inspector Daryll Spencer announced via state media on
Wednesday morning.
Spencer admitted that the department has in the past been complacent in terms
of enforcing and conducting regular visits but all that is set to change.
“The intention is to visit every food handler within the next four months and
that is a lot. The general idea is to at least pay a visit and those food handlers
who are not up to par, we will have some conversations with them and try to
bring them up,” Spencer said.
At least 10,000 individuals have been trained in food safety in the country since
the food handlers training program began.
Over the years, reports have been made that some vendors were not complying
with the specific protocols.
Some vendors have even been shut down temporarily in the past until they
could meet certain standards.
While the supervision of these protocols has been a difficult task for the Central
Board of Health (CBH), Spencer revealed that one of their biggest issues at this
time is with consumers.
Some, Spencer said, have even deterred inspectors from carrying out their
duties effectively.
“They become very aggressive during that period. You know, some people want
their chicken, and they want it now and when the inspectors are trying to carry
out their tasks, they would say, leave them alone and whatever the case is but
the role of the Public Health Inspector is to protect you from the food and from
consuming contaminated products,” he added.
Limited human resources was another area Spencer said is plaguing the
department.
Nevertheless, Spencer is encouraging all food handlers to continue to abide by
the protocols.
For those persons who have not been certified, they are being urged to get the
proper training.
A certification training is set to take place next month starting April 11th from 9
am-2 pm.
Another session will be held seven days later with two sessions: 9 am-12 pm
and 1 pm-3 pm.
All sessions will be at the Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre.
Persons can register at the CBH Office on Upper Church Street.
