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BAHAMAS: Recall of Salad Products due to E. coli in the lettuce ingredient

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#Nassau, November 26, 2019 – Bahamas – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on November 21, 2019, that a voluntary recall was made by a New Jersey company, Missa Bay, of over 75,000 pounds of salad products that contain meat or poultry because the lettuce ingredient may be contaminated with E. coliO157:H7.  The company announced that over 30 packaged salad products with tainted romaine were produced from Oct. 14 through Oct. 16, 2019 and have use-by datesbetween Oct. 28 and Nov. 1, 2019. The products being recalled bear establishment number “EST. 18502B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. A list of the recalled products can be found at https://www.fsis.usda.gov   

There have been seven hospitalizations, two of which developed kidney failure [haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)].  To date, 17 persons have been infected with E. coli with no deaths reported.

The public is asked to dispose of any of the recalled products they may still have in their freezers after the use-by dates above.

The Ready Pac Foods Bistro Chicken Caesar Salad reportedly made persons sick in Maryland but did not account for those who became ill in other U.S. states, according to the CDC. An unopened package of this product from the home of an infected person also tested positive for E. coli.

The Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit have no reports of illnesses to date from these recalled products.  Consumers usually become ill from E. coli 3 to 4 days after ingesting contaminated food with symptoms of vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea (often bloody).  Most persons will recover within a week with the exception of those who develop severe infections. Persons who believe they may have consumed any of the recalled products are asked to visit the nearest clinic.

A day later, a second lettuce recall on November 22, 2019 was again, due to the E. coli outbreak.  The CDC announced that 40 persons have been sickened with 28 requiring hospitalization.  Consumers were urged to avoid lettuce grown in the Salinas Valley region in California.  The CDC advises that any lettuce (whole heads, hearts, pre-cut packaged) and salad mixes (baby romaine, spring mix, Caesar) from this region are to be thrown out and not eaten.

Consumers can identify recalled lettuce from the Salinas valley region by checking the label on the lettuce packaging.

Consumers are urged to practice these food safety principles to prevent food-borne illnesses:

  1. Wash their hands thoroughly in warm, soapy, potable running water;
  2. Clean and sanitize the food preparation area;
  3. Keep raw meats separate from raw, ready to eat foods such as lettuce;
  4. Cook foods at the right temperature for the right time;
  5. Cover and refrigerate left overs at the correct temperature; and
  6. Use a good source of raw products and potable water (important when rinsing lettuce).

Visit us at bahfsa@bahamas.gov.bs for additional information on food safety measures you can take this Thanksgiving and Christmas when preparing foods like salads and turkey; and for information on the common food borne pathogens to be aware of.

Consumers who may have questions or concerns should contact BAHFSA at: christopherworrell@bahamas.gov.bs or patriciajjohnson@bahamas.gov.bs.

Release: BIS

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RTCIPF Observes World Down Syndrome Day

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On March 21st, 2024, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force joined the international, regional and local communities in observing World Down Syndrome Day. 

Officers showed their support by wearing brightly coloured and mismatched socks to raise awareness. 

The head of the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police Grantley Williams, Training Manager Mrs Odessa Forbes and Media Relations Officer Denyse Renne visited the SNAP Centre and interacted with the students.

In a message to the TCI community, the RTCIPF noted that stereotypes perpetuate stigma and hinder inclusion, preventing individuals from reaching their full potential. 

Instead, the RTCIPF calls for individuals to foster an environment of acceptance and support where everyone is valued for who they are. 

By breaking down barriers and challenging misconceptions, we can create a more inclusive society where individuals with Down Syndrome are empowered to live fulfilling lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities and, by extension, the TCI. 

As law enforcement officers, we must protect and serve all members of society, regardless of their abilities. 

Let’s work together to ensure that individuals with Down Syndrome are treated with dignity and respect and that their rights are upheld.

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CARICOM speaks out on Climate Change, looking to May meeting to amplify call for Climate Funding

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March 3, 2024

 

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) remains on the frontlines of global climate crisis, an issue the Region has been aggressively advocating on for the past thirty years. Despite the many commitments and promises of international partners, the window of opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is rapidly closing.

Heads of Government are concerned that while COP 28 was widely regarded as a historic event, with the completion of the first global stocktake (GST), on progress in achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, the outcomes of GST show that emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise and the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of Parties will not keep global temperatures below the 1.5 degree goal enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

Heads of Government also expressed concern to be heading to COP 29 where a New Finance Goal will be articulated to replace the 100bn goal, which has not yet been met, even as developing countries require trillions to deal with the escalating impacts of climate change. Developed country parties have not provided enough finance at scale, technology and capacity building support required to help developing countries tackle their pressing needs to build their resilience, especially in adapting to the adverse and increasingly catastrophic impacts of climate change. The clear absence of definitive timelines for action and quantitative commitments for scaling up of investments, and particularly adaptation finance emerging out of COP 28, cause great concern to our Region.

The Conference noted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), recognized as the most vulnerable group of countries and a special case for sustainable development, have been facing strong push back against the recognition of their special circumstances especially in the context of climate finance. There is limited international support for special allocations for SIDS within financing arrangements and available climate finance from international and private sources is limited, expensive and too onerous to access.

In light of the preceding, Heads of Government called for CARICOM to take a strategic, unified and coordinated approach to ensure that the Region remains influential in the climate and development arena through engagements with key partners and advocacy groups.

They called for renewed focus by the Region to advocate for inclusion of forests, nature-based solutions and blue carbon into market mechanisms with the aim of articulating clear regional positions and strategies.

Heads of Government reiterated the call for improved readiness programmes, simplified approval procedures, a change to the criteria for determining access to low-cost finance, and for the adoption of programmatic approaches to address the bottlenecks in accessing finance.

The Region reiterates its support for the Bridgetown Initiative’s call to expand capital adequacy of international financial institutions.

Heads recognized that the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda, 27 – 30 May 2024, will be an inflection point for many of these discussions to be articulated. As such, the Region remains committed to participating in the Conference at the highest level.

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South Caicos Development Plans shared with Washington-Misick led Administration

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On Monday, 12 February 2024, the Premier led a delegation to tour the island of South Caicos to view the ongoing public and private sector projects, involving the remodelling and rebranding of the airport terminals, historical districts, and the East Bay Hotel.

The tour of the various developments reinforced the Government’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to boost the island’s activity and economy.

Photos courtesy of the TCI Office of the Premier

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