30 CJIA food vendors participate in food safety training

Thirty food vendors, who vend at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), were participants of a two-day food handlers training exercise which was hosted by the Veterinary Public Health Department (VPH) of the Public Health Ministry, as a measure to improve the safety of the food that is being sold to consumers.
The training commenced on Wednesday and the food handlers were briefed on the negative impact of unsafe food and food-borne diseases that is growing around the world and being blamed for some 80 percent of deaths globally.
One of the coordinators, Dr Colin James related, “The negative impact of unsafe food is enormous and it also creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, elderly and the sick,” James said.
While unsafe food and food-borne diseases constitute a significant public health problem, food diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems and harming national economies, tourism and trade.
“Food safety incidents, or plant and animal trans-boundary disease outbreaks have had negative impacts on public health, on trade, on peoples’ livelihood and on countries’ economies over the years,” he added.
James confirmed that a large proportion of ready-to-eat foods are being sold by informal sector operators, especially street vendors who offer it at low prices and provide essential services to workers, shoppers, travellers, school children and low-income earners. The consumption of these foods is common in many urbanised countries.
He told that participants that in responding to the health challenges related to food safety, the MoPH strives to support food vendors to ensure that the foods supplied are safe and nutritious.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of CJIA Andre Kellman, applauded the ministry’s effort and urged participants to take the lessons learnt and put it into practice.
“As international airport, vendors need to be very mindful of the travelling public because we are being constantly verify for international standards”, Kellman said.
Additionally, Manager of Lotus Restaurant Davieanie Bhim, stated that she plans to reinforce all food safety and hygiene rules in keeping with the regulations of the MoPH. She noted that within the two days, a total of eight staff from her restaurant will participate in the food handlers training.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) notes that access to safe and nutritious food is central to sustaining life and promotion of good health. The organisation estimates that every year, food and water-borne diarrhoeal diseases kill about 2.2 million people.
The training will continue today.