By Bennette Roach
Following news saying that the number of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries placing a temporary ban on the importation of corn beef or meat products from Brazil had increased by two with Barbados and the Bahamas joining their CARICOM partners from Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, late on Friday having checked that meetings were being conducted within various ministries, we learnt that the Ministry of Health had issued a statement in respect of the reports of other islands banning the import of ‘corned beef’ from Brazil.
We found the following reportedly from the desk of the Chief Medical Officer:
“In light of the concerns raised and the steps being taken regionally in response to the reports of tainted beef and chicken products being exported from Brazil, the Ministry of Health is asking the public to exercise extreme caution in relation to the purchase and use of meat and chicken products from Brazil.”
We intend to conduct further investigations and await official information from our regional advising bodies.
Measures being considered include:-
A temporary hold on all permits for the import of corned beef from Brazil;
Increased surveillance and random inspection by Environmental Health Officers of stocks of imported corned beef, and removal of Brazilian products from shelves of supermarkets and stores.
Collection of random samples for chemical, bacteriological and microbiological testing.
An educational program to inform consumers of the risks and effects of eating contaminated beef from non-approved sources.
Continued networking with regional and sub-regional partner agencies in developing a common position in response to this matter
