Kingston, Jamaica, December 16, 2016 – The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) says food safety during the Yuletide season remains a priority for the organisation. Speaking with JIS News, Acting Director of Communications at the CAC, Dorothy Campbell, said the agency makes an extra effort at this time of the year to minimize the risk of persons consuming unhealthy foods. “As part of our responsibility as the consumer protection agency, we seek to ensure that the food you purchase, especially at this time, is of the highest quality and it does not cause any adverse illness to families,” Miss Campbell noted.
She pointed out that, at this time, families will be catering for many more persons and some health practices could be overlooked. “When you are purchasing your grocery, check the expiry dates. Inspect the meat thoroughly and ensure that the food is refrigerated at the right temperature,” Miss Campbell said. Miss Campbell is encouraging shoppers to examine the products using the natural lighting in the store, rather than the LEDs that are in the refrigerators. “If the item does not appear fresh to you, do not buy it. Look for the clear eyes in the fish to ensure that it is fresh. If it’s fillet and the flesh is crumbling, do not buy it,” she urged.
Miss Campbell is also calling on persons to clean their refrigerators and make room for new foods by throwing out any perishables that have passed their ‘best-before’ dates. She emphasized that persons must wash their hands after handling raw meat, poultry or fish; after using the toilet; and when handling rubbish and pets. Miss Campbell said consumers should use separate knives when cutting raw meat, poultry, fish and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination. Leftovers, she said, should be stored in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking.
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