The Environmental Health Division is encouraging the community to do its part to improve food safety as the Territory prepares to observe World Food Safety Day on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Photo: foodsafetytrainingcourse.com

Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mr E. Lionel Michael said that food safety is everyone’s business as the Division continues to bring awareness, offer education and provide resources to the community to aid in the promotion and maintenance of food safety locally.

Mr Michael said, “Food standards ensure access to foods that are safe, and free from contamination, thus helping to save and better lives.  We offer extensive training in food safety, we also have regular food handlers training sessions and we are available to assist establishments in ensuring that food safety is at the forefront of their operation.”

The Environmental Health team will be hosting several activities at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park in observance of World Food Safety Day and the community is invited to participate and receive life-changing information. The day’s activities will include:

• Interviews
• Question and Answers with Environmental Health Officers
• Distribution of informational brochures/pamphlets
• Food Safety Trivia/Crossword Puzzle Competitions
• Food Safety Demonstrations
• Interactive Food Safety Games

World Food Safety Day 2023 will be observed under the theme, “Food Standards Save Lives”, to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agricultural production, market access, tourism and sustainable development. 

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is committed to ensuring that all aspects of the environment with the potential to negatively affect the health of the population are managed efficiently to enable all persons in the BVI to attain and maintain optimal health and well-being.