THE Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) started a Food Nutritional Labelling and Water Testing Workshop last Friday, in aid of sensitising the stakeholders in the food industry. 

The programme, at the Institute of Applied Science & Technology (IAST) Building on the University of Guyana (UG), Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara Campus, saw 44 participants from the various regions, including food inspectors and representatives of other organisations.
The initiative will continue through Friday, June 13.
According to the Director of Food and Drugs, Marlan Cole, lectures on nutritional labelling ingredients, label information and instructions, health claims, biotechnology, caloric value and nutritional label development would be done by Professor Reid, Director of the Sickle Cell Unit, Tropical Medicine Research Institute (TMRI) at University of the West Indies and his team of Sasha Thomas and Sardia Morgan from the Scientific Research Council Jamaica and Nestle Jamaica.
Professor Reid, in his address to the participants, expressed appreciation for his involvement and that of his team in the exercise.
BILATERAL FLOW

He mentioned that “the expectations from our side are that there is a bilateral flow of information…we will learn from you, since, in your own right, you are all experts. You know all the conditions that are on the ground and from outside.”
Cole explained that the workshop is being conducted with the aim of “safeguarding the health and well-being of consumers.”
He emphasised that this training could not have come at a better time due to the ongoing issue pertaining to counterfeiting of products in Guyana.
Cole pointed out that this seminar is also to target the GA-FDD food inspectors, public health officers, health environment officers and environmental health assistants.
He noted that, with the aid of this programme: “The Food and Drug Department, with support from members of the National Food Safety and Control Committee and Environmental Officers, we must be able to bridge that gap between the manufacturers and the consumers since, with counterfeit products, the labels contain many fallacies.”
Cole concluded his remarks by stating that demonstrations will be conducted, by staff of the Food Microbiology Laboratory of the GA-FDD, to show officers of the Region the application and maintenance of the portable water testing kit.
He expressed gratitude to PAHO for donating the testing kits and providing the required training.
Speaking at the opening ceremony also was Dr. William Adu-Krow, the new PAHO/WHO (World Health Organisation) representative in the Guyana Country Office.
He pointed out that PAHO donated six water testing kits to the Environmental Health Unit and one to Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).
Adu-Krow placed particular emphasis on the fact that the fate of the nutritional labelling now lies in the hands of the officers and the consumers.

(By Sandy Agasen)