Tuesday, February 9 2010

With the health and wellbeing of Trinbagonians and visitors alike in mind, the following feature is presented by the Food Safety Centre at CARIRI, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institite:

IMAGINE MY surprise recently, when, while browsing through one of our popular daily newspapers, I came across a news item about a Carnival food vendor who was very dissatisfied with the lack of hygienic facilities and potable water in the food vending facility she was renting for the season. Three things stood out for me in this article:

1. It is not often that you hear food vendors or food providers complain publicly about the conditions in which they prepare the food they serve us.

2. The date of this news item was well before the Carnival season got into its peak period. “Food safety problems so soon?” I thought. This did not look good for the coming weeks, when Carnival activities take on their usual frenzied fervour.

3. The vendor reported that despite many complaints to the persons from whom she was renting the vending booth, no action/s for improvement were being undertaken. ‘The usual scenario, “I mused, ‘the poor lady doesn’t know that too many people really do not care enough about food safety”.

Over the last six months, food safety has taken on a personal face for me. On Carnival Monday and Tuesday, as the nation celebrates this festival of freedom and indulgence, a young lady I know very well will be watching the mas on television, confined to the hospital bed she has been in since July 2009, suffering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome - an illness that can be directly linked to the undercooked chicken she was served at a restaurant in Trinidad. She will not be jumping and waving this year like she did for Carnival 2009. Instead, she has no choice but to lie motionless because food poisoning has left her paralyzed from her neck to her legs.

I therefore want to implore you — Carnival feters, revelers and sightseers — be very careful about where and what you consume this Carnival. Join the concerned food vendor by insisting on:

- Clean food preparation facilities and environment — no garbage, no stray animals, no visible signs of dirt on walls, countertops, equipment and so on.

- Potable water and soap for washing hands and utensils at the food preparation booth or location

- Clean food vendors and food providers — no dirty hands, no dirty fingernails, no dirty clothing, must be wearing full head covering, no jewelry

- Try to avoid water and drinks that are not bottled by reputable suppliers eg do not buy drinks or water in cups, plastic bags or in bottles that have been re-used

- Vendors handling food should not also be handling money

- All food providers must have a valid food badge displayed - it’s the law!

- Only buy from food facilities that have toilet areas for the food providers. If you are buying from a food vendor, ensure that you are aware of toilet facilities nearby for the vendor to use. If you don’t know of any toilet facilities close by, you should be asking yourself ‘ During the course of the day, where is this vendor doing his/her business?’

- Do not eat raw oysters, because the pepper really cannot kill the bacteria. Ensure that the foods you eat are either piping hot (you should see steam) or very cold. Remember “warm” foods sold to you can be contaminated with the thousands of bacteria and other germs that thrive at “warm” temperatures.

- Don’t be fooled by food providers wearing gloves. If the gloves are not changed regularly, you can still get food poisoning by food contamination from dirty gloves. So pay attention and make sure that the food provider changes the gloves if he/she moves away from the food and handle other non-food items. The gloves also need to be changed if the vendor scratches or touches his/her skin, hair or clothing.

- If you are taking your own food on your Carnival lime, the same rules apply to you. Make sure that your foods are stored piping hot or very cold. All cooked foods, salads, sandwiches and homemade drinks should be eaten within 2-4 hours of preparation.

Because of her experience with food poisoning, my friend may never be able to jump in another Carnival band. This Carnival, before you buy street foods and even restaurant foods, take a moment to remember her and then follow the guidelines we have given, so that you do not fall victim to the same food safety fate.