Tenesha Thomas, Gleaner/Power 106 Reporter
IT COULD take another few months before the results of a study to determine the reasons for the high levels of hypoglycin in a shipment of local ackees to the United States are known.
In December, the US-based Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the study after it was forced to seize a shipment of Jamaican ackees in which high levels of the toxin hypoglycin were found in 31 cases of the 19-ounce cans.
Dr. Andre Gordon, president of the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) yesterday said the unavailability of the fruit has resulted in delays in the completion of the study. Dr. Gordon whose company, Technological Solutions Limited, is conducting the study, is hopeful that the country can resume exports to the United States before the end of the year.
KEY QUESTIONS
"It is going to depend on whether the fruit will be available by the next season which starts in July. By then we will be able to make some significant advance in answering some of the key questions that the FDA will have of both the industry and the processors," Dr. Gordon told the Gleaner/Power 106 news centre.
He said the extended delay will have severe implications for the local ackee industry, as the U.S. commands about 50 per cent of the ackee market. "Last year, which was our best year, canned ackees from Jamaica was US$9.8 million (J$650 million). I would be surprised if we will ever be able to repeat that performance at all this year," said Dr. Gordon. With six local exporters now restricted from the U.S. market, the country has already lost about J$300 million.
Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke said yesterday that while the government had initiated its own study after the recall last year, a decision has now been made to combine both studies. Mr. Clarke said the study will cost the government $5 million.
