Officials meet to insure food safety
They are now a permanent fixture on many street corners in Belize City and in most towns around the country. I’m talking about vendors who sell everything from hot dogs to tacos. But while these fast food carts offer convenient alternatives for people on the go, public health officials are concerned that consumers may be exposing themselves to danger in the form of bacterial infections like salmonella and e.coli. These concerns are being discussed during a two day seminar underway in Belize City. The National Consultation on Promoting Food Safety among Consumers in Belize is also reviewing the findings of a 2002 food safety sample survey, which Principal Public Health Inspector Godswell Flores says indicates that many Belizeans do not know some of the basic do’s and don’ts of food handling.
Godswell Flores, Principal Public Health Inspector
?Generally there is need for more household awareness and consciousness of food safety and prevention of food borne diseases.?
?However, they need to be aware of what can happen if food is not properly prepared is not properly stored and the general food safety concerns. ?
Patrick Jones
?Why is it taking you two years to be making this report public??
Godswell Flores
?Well the study was conducted, then the result of the study was sent to the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute which is the organisation involved with this survey and the programme.?
Patrick Jones
?Could this be a part of the problem in that it takes two years for information to reach the people??
Godswell Flores
?Yes and no. C.F.N.I., the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute is a small institution but it covers eighteen Caribbean countries and so with the limited staff it?s just about now that they reached Belize. But they have been working with us throughout and this year.?
At the end of consultation on Friday, Flores says a plan of action will be drafted which will, among other things, guide a public awareness campaign to inform people about food safety. The workshop is being coordinated by the Ministry of Health, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, the Pan American Health Organisation and the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute. Participants include food safety inspectors, health educators and representatives of school feeding programmes.
