Caribbean Millers Urged To Maintain Quality Standards

(Barbados Government Information Service) Caribbean millers have been told it is imperative to continue producing wheat flour and products that meet international health and industry standards.

Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Dwight Sutherland, stressed this today while addressing the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Millers’ Association at Infinity on the Beach, St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church.

Speaking to the theme: Flour – Safe Handling, Biohazards and Recalls, he told regional delegates: “Quality control continues to be a major focus of all producers in the wheat flour sector, where potential contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticide residues and mycotoxins, can not only pose serious threats to human health but can also negatively impact the industry’s operations.”

While pointing out that food safety risks in wheat flour, as well as hygiene and sanitation in flour mills continued to be issues on the rise, he reminded them that recently, in the United States, several brands and types of wheat flour were recalled due to possible e-coli contamination. “We all know that the fall-out from these incidents can be costly and damaging to the industry,” he added.

Read more at: Barbados Government Information Service 

Source: CARICOM TODAY