Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Lionel Michael has said that the Environmental Health Division is on a mission to protect residents and visitors to the BVI from food borne illnesses through its food handler’s training programme.

Mr. Michael told participants at a food handler’s session that the purpose of the training was to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to assist in the fight against bacteria, viruses and parasites.

The chief called for a partnership between the members of the food industry in order to succeed at keeping these diseases at a minimum. He added that training of managers and owners will play a very important role in this process. 

“Our emphasis has been on the food handlers in establishments. We are going to have a training programme that focuses on managers as they have a tremendous responsibility in their businesses and we feel that when food handlers go back to their establishments they would have improved knowledge on how to deal with food safety issues and we want the managers to be up to par as well.”

Participants including managers, owners and supervisors will be trained in the business of purchasing, receiving, storage, preparation, serving and the display of food.

The next food handlers’ session will be held on Thursday, March 15 at 8:30 a.m. at the Red Cross Building in Road Town.

The Environmental Health Division is committed to ensuring that all aspects of the environment with the potential to negatively impact health are managed efficiently to enable all persons in the BVI to attain and maintain optimal health and social well-being.