Dr Fitzroy Henry, director of the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, says improper food safety practices have impacted major developmental sectors of the region, primarily tourism, health and agriculture.

Speaking at Wednesday's National Food Safety Week 2008 breakfast meeting held at Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, Waterloo Road in St Andrew, Henry challenged Jamaicans to adhere to best food hygiene practices as food-borne diseases are on the increase in the Caribbean.

"Food safety is essential in sustaining critical linkages in Caribbean development - linkages of tourism, agriculture and health," said Henry.

Statistics

He presented data, showing that food-borne diseases are major causes of economic burden, illness and death in the Caribbean.

Between 1989 and 2003, food-borne diseases increased in the region by more than 400 per cent, from 607 to 3,100 cases. Globally, an estimated 1.5 million children die yearly from food-borne diseases.

Henry used each finger to meta-phorically represent five essential components of proper food safety practices from farm to table.

These are hygiene, inspection, analysis, regulation and coordination.

The National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Coordinating Committee are organisers of National Food Safety Week, which started this past Sunday and concludes today.

The week's activity is being held under the theme 'Food Safety is in Your Hands'. The week will culminate with a fair and exposition at Emancipation Park in New Kingston.