On June 7, the world will observe “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.” Led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the annual observance highlights the importance of preventing, detecting, and managing foodborne risks while strengthening food systems globally.

For Jamaica, this conversation is not abstract or distant. It is already part of our daily reality.

Food safety is often viewed as an issue that only matters when something goes wrong — during a foodborne illness outbreak, a product recall, or a viral social media video exposing unsafe food handling practices. However, food safety is much larger than isolated incidents. It directly impacts public health, tourism, agriculture, trade, household finances, food security, and national development.

In a small island developing state like Jamaica, many of the burdens threatening food safety are becoming increasingly visible.

The Growing Burden on Jamaica’s Food System

Jamaica faces a unique combination of vulnerabilities that influence both food safety and food security. The country remains heavily dependent on imported food and imported agricultural inputs. Global disruptions such as rising fuel costs, supply chain instability, shipping delays, and international conflicts continue to affect food prices and food availability locally. Consumers are already feeling the effects every time they visit the supermarket.

Simultaneously, climate change is placing additional pressure on food systems. Rising temperatures increase the risk of food spoilage and bacterial growth, particularly in highly perishable foods such as poultry, seafood, dairy products, and cooked meals sold in open environments. Hurricanes, flooding, drought conditions, and prolonged power outages can also compromise refrigeration systems, contaminate water supplies, and interrupt sanitation practices.

This year’s theme for World Food Safety Day is From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.

For a tropical country like Jamaica, these risks are especially concerning. Food can enter the temperature danger zone very quickly when refrigeration is lost or food improperly handled during transportation, storage, or sale. Following storms or extended light outages, many households unknowingly place themselves at risk by consuming foods that may no longer be safe.

Food Safety Is Also an Economic Issue

Food safety is not only a health issue. It is also an economic issue. Unsafe food can result in product losses, food waste, reduced consumer confidence, medical expenses, and reputational damage for businesses and even countries. Jamaica’s tourism sector, which relies heavily on international trust and consumer confidence, is particularly sensitive to food safety concerns. A single food safety incident can have far-reaching consequences.

In recent years, social media has amplified public scrutiny surrounding food-handling practices in supermarkets, restaurants, schools, and public events. Videos showing pest sightings, expired products, poor hygiene practices, and questionable food storage conditions often circulate widely online within hours. While these incidents can create panic, they also reveal something important: Consumers are paying closer attention. That awareness matters because stronger food safety culture begins with awareness and accountability.

The Hidden Burden of Food Waste

Another major burden facing Jamaica is food waste. Ironically, while many families struggle with rising food costs and food insecurity, significant amounts of food continue to be discarded because of spoilage, improper storage, poor meal planning, or misunderstanding of date labels.

Food safety and food security are closely connected. Unsafe food contributes to waste, and wasted food places additional pressure on affordability and availability. According to the FAO, reducing food loss and food waste is critical to improving global food security and sustainability. For households already trying to stretch limited budgets, preventing food spoilage at home is both a financial and food safety strategy.

Food waste remains a heavy burden for Jamaica. Ironically, despite rising food prices and insecurity, significant amounts of food are discarded daily due to preventable spoilage, poor meal planning, and labeling confusion.

Simple practices such as proper refrigeration, storing foods correctly, monitoring expiration dates, and avoiding over-purchasing can significantly reduce household food waste.

Moving From Burden to Solutions

The encouraging reality is that solutions exist. This year’s World Food Safety Day theme focuses not only on identifying burdens but also on implementing practical and science-based solutions. Stronger food safety systems require collaboration across every level of the food chain.

Businesses must continue strengthening sanitation programmes, staff training, traceability systems, temperature monitoring, supplier controls, and crisis preparedness. Regulatory agencies must continue improving surveillance, public education, inspections, and enforcement activities.

However, consumers also have a critical role to play. Food safety does not stop at the supermarket checkout counter. Every consumer influences the food system through the decisions they make daily. Supporting businesses that prioritise cleanliness and transparency, practising proper food handling at home, paying attention to recalls, and reporting suspicious food products all contribute to safer food systems.

Small actions can make a significant difference in improving food safety nationally. Consumers can reduce risks by checking expiration dates before purchasing products, keeping raw and cooked foods separate, practising proper handwashing, maintaining safe refrigerator temperatures, cooking foods thoroughly, and reducing food waste through smarter meal planning and storage. During food safety incidents, seeking information from credible sources is also critical to preventing misinformation and panic. While these actions may seem simple, collectively they help strengthen Jamaica’s food safety culture and contribute to safer food for everyone.

Science, Awareness, and Shared Responsibility

One of the most important messages behind World Food Safety Day is that food safety must be proactive rather than reactive. Too often, food safety only becomes a national conversation after a crisis occurs. Yet preventing foodborne illness requires continuous awareness, education, and commitment long before problems arise.

Science plays an important role in helping countries identify hazards, improve standards, and implement effective controls. However, awareness and personal responsibility are equally important. Food safety is not solely the responsibility of inspectors, regulators, or food businesses. It belongs to everyone — every food handler, supermarket employee, restaurant worker, transport operator, policymaker, parent, and consumer.

In Jamaica, where food, tourism, and culture are deeply interconnected, protecting food safety also means protecting livelihoods, protecting public trust, and protecting national resilience. World Food Safety Day 2026, therefore, serves as more than just an international observance. It is a reminder that safe food does not happen by accident. It happens through science, education, accountability, and collective action.

And if Jamaica is truly to move “from burden to solutions,” then all stakeholders — including consumers — must recognise the important role they play in creating safer food everywhere.

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About the Author

Allison Richards is a food safety communicator, certified trainer and the founder of The Food Safety Girl, a consumer awareness platform promoting food safety in Jamaica and the Caribbean. She is the Caribbean Chapter Director for Women in Food Safety (WIFS) and host of The Big Bite Food Safety Show. With over 14 years of experience in food safety regulation, she is committed to public education and consumer empowerment. Through public education initiatives, including free community webinars, she continues to create space for learning, dialogue, and practical food safety awareness.

Allison Richards | thefoodsafetygirlja@gmail.com-