EULALEE THOMPSON
UP TO June 17, 2005, 13 factories were registered by the Bureau of Standards' Food Inspectorate Department. These factories produce the following brands of coconut water - Portland Splash Coconut Water; Circle B; Real Jamaican; Farm Fresh Coconut Water; KAL's; Free Hill Products; Mello Fello; Spring Garden, OUR; St. Bess 100% Coconut Water; Sun Valley and Water Valley.
Factories are registered based on standards set out in the Bureau of Standards' "Jamaican Standard Specification for Packaged Natural Coconut Water". The Standards outline requirement for the hygienic preparation of packaged natural coconut water. It addresses issues of harvesting of coconuts used to produce bottled coconut water, cleanliness of the factories producing bottled coconut water, storage, personal hygiene of factory workers, packaging and labelling and quality control.
INSPECTION CRITERIA
"We look at the exterior, the environment and general sanitation, documentation of the process itself, pest control, sanitation schedule, equipment maintenance, preventative maintenance, health records such as food handler's permit. that is, quality control record," said Sheryl Mullings, Bureau of Standards' operations officer. "We also inspect whether the establishment is kept generally in such a way that there are no pests (for example, rats ) and kept in such a way that it's insect or pest free. Some (factories) may use ultra violet light or other methods to keep out pests ... the ceiling should be non-toxic material and the roof weather-proof."
Mrs. Mullings also explained that the registration process also involves taking samples of the product itself for testing at the microbiology laboratory. Faecal coliforms, E. coli, S. aureus and Salmonella germs should be absent from the products but microbiological limits are set for other constituents such as total aerobic plate count, coliform and yeast and mould.
COCONUT STANDARD
"If the product is unsatisfactory, we report this and advise the factory," she said.
The standards states that processors "shall ensure that coconut used for the commercial packaging of natural coconut water shall be harvested between five and nine months after pollination. Free fall of coconuts shall not be allowed, coconut shall be lowered to the ground".
The harvested nuts should also be transported in vehicles "adequate for the purpose intended and be of such material and construction that shall permit thorough cleaning" and kept clean and dry in compliance with the Public Health (Food Handling) Regulations 1998.
Mrs. Mullings reports that the Bureau checks:
Employees' room for running water and flushable toilets.
that employees follow basic sanitation processes, including not wearing jewellery or slippers (should wear closed-up shoes), wearing clean clothing or aprons and have hair covered.
For clean equipment and good manufacturing practices.
For good sanitation practices.
That scales are calibrated and in metric.
For food handlers' permit and this is a critical aspect of the registration process.
Labelling for best before date and address of company/manufacturer.
RUNNING WATER CRITICAL
"In terms of wash water, if there is no running water then we cannot register the factory, but we want to facilitate trade as much as possible, so usually if we see that there is a product not registered, we encourage the manufacturer to comply. Sometimes we are left with no alternatives but to pull products from shelves, but we don't want to be draconian," she said.
"Sometimes people are not aware of the requirements - for example we were working with a particular factory, near to close down, and we told them what is expected of them and within a very short space of time, they complied and could be registered."
You can send feedback to eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com.
