Responsibility Of Food

The food purchased, prepared and consumed each day by individuals warrants a high level of trust for the producers and manufacturers of all food items. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a number of food products are recalled each year by companies, following the identification of the potential presence of a significant or serious risk to the consumers or users of the product, such as health hazards, contamination and food borne illnesses. Individuals tend to only subconsciously consider the wholesome safety of a product for use or consumption. It is however, the individuals and companies involved in the production of food from farm-to-fork who must shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that the food obtained by consumers

Most of the products generated by the industry are also supplied to the local agricultural market. There is however a challenge associated with the quality of the goods on the local market, as they are rarely sufficiently scrutinized by the relevant authorities for quality and safety. Produce is merely passed from producers, to vendor, to retailer, to consumer etc. leaving inexperienced consumers to judge for quality and safety. In Jamaica, ailments caused by unsafe food produce are rarely reported to the authorities, thus there is little to no accountability to be faced by those responsible. Additionally there is little data from the health ministry to place in perspective, the hazards and ailments which have been associated with produce of sub-standard quality from local sales. Jamaicans are known to rely on traditional methods and remedies and consider little of the aches and pains associated with common food borne ailments. The ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries; Industry, Investment and Commerce, and Health, bear the

While there are numerous benefits to be derived from being united as a region, trade among Caribbean nations has proven problematic. Anderson 2011 outlines, that the economic interests, political will and the commitment of member states will be significant factors in the unification of Caribbean territories for trade. Other information put forward by Anderson 2011 suggests that the nations are not positively poised towards the ability of the agricultural Industry to generate any investment made by each territory, and its ability to spark notable interest and significant lobbying pressure. The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) agreement, as discussed by Anderson 2011, makes an attempt to implement common food safety measures and standards among Caribbean states, in an effort to provide a multilateral approach for the efficient execution of actions and activities of the Agricultural Industry within the regional and international markets. The harmonization and development of technical laws, administrative practices and procedures, and standards among Caribbean states will facilitate community trade in the food and agricultural products. This will poise the Caribbean to increase overall competitiveness of the regions’ products. Financial