The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department recently hosted a workshop aimed at boosting knowledge and techniques in food inspection for regulatory and enforcement activities for food inspectors.

Deputy Director at the Department Jewel Sears told participants that training is an important aspect for developing the requisite skills and methodologies in ensuring the safety, soundness and quality of mass produced food.

Director Marilyn Collins, giving an overview of the approach to food safety, noted that food inspectors play a vital role as the guardians of public health. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA), Collins told the workshop that many food-borne illnesses are transmitted because of lax practices by the food handler. “The focus for us inspectors should be on hygiene education and food handling practices rather than providing a food handlers’ card that is based on medical examination,” she said. Collins pointed out that the role of an inspector is to employ a science-based approach to identify and address risks in order to safeguard public health. She said they must be able to analyse and ensure that there is public confidence in the food chain.

Collins said she was hopeful that at the close of the programme the participants would have gained greater self-confidence and would be able to make contributions to national development by supporting competitiveness of the country’s industries and trade.
GINA said the workshop also entailed interactive sessions and presentations on the role of food inspectors, complaints and recalls, sanitation and hygiene, product labelling, packaging, general requirements for meat inspection-techniques and facilities, inspection of fish and seafood processing, pharmacies, drug stores and legal obligations of food inspectors.