Food industry improves safety standards

For years government and the private sector have urged the public to buy Belizean: particularly Belizean food products. Today, officials and processors met in Belize City to ensure that all that local produce is safe for the table.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

The workshop aims to improve the quality and safety of food produced and sold in Belize.

Thomas Tillett, District Agriculture Coordinator

“We look at the methods used in the production of these foods. We want to standardize, so that the consumers eat a safe product. Many times, if we are not careful, our product may be contaminated and whenever the tourists probably consume our product and get sick, we can lose an industry.”

So far, the Ministry of Health has not received any reported cases of contaminated food, but as the local food market grows, there is the need to ensure that what is being provided is safe to consume. According to the District Agriculture Coordinator, Thomas Tillett, they conduct on site inspections at the over thirty local processing establishments across the country.

Thomas Tillett

“From McKesey’s processing area, Smiling Meats, the public health officers from time to time visit these areas. We look at the processors who are producing jams, jellies, cashew nuts, cashew jams, and they are marketing to the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation.”

Tillett says the only regret they have is that not many in the business attended the workshop. However, the ministry will continue to sensitise local food producers and processors about the importance of quality and safety.

The food safety workshop was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives in conjunction with the Belize Agricultural Health Authority and the Ministry of Health.