St Catherine residents urged to be vigilant when buying meat over festive season

Chief public health inspector for St Catherine, Grayson Hutchinson, is appealing to consumers in the parish to exercise vigilance when buying meats during this time of year.

Hutchinson warned that unscrupulous persons continue to bypass the system, noting that there are 48 registered slaughterhouses along with 140 butchers in the parish.

"We have been doing rigorous market surveillance throughout the parish and will continue. We must inform the consumers to buy from reputable sources such as the meat markets and the meat sections of reputable businesses," Hutchinson said.

He told The Gleaner that consumers can buy properly inspected meats in markets across the parish such as those in Linstead, Spanish Town, Ewarton, Bog Walk, and Old Harbour.

"The meats, when properly inspected, will be branded with the inspector's health stamp. The consumer best buy is from these sources as whenever an animal is slaughtered it should be tested to see that it is fit and proper for human consumption," Hutchinson said.

He emphasised that some persons might just want to kill and sell, but advised that it is always best to inform the public health department.

The senior public health inspector said that the team remains vigilant and where contaminated meats are detected, they are confiscated and destroyed.

"If persons are caught breaching the Public Health Act they can be prosecuted in the parish courts throughout the island. Therefore, it is better to comply with the law," Hutchinson said.

It was revealed that butchers are licensed annually and paid a fee of $2,500 to slaughter animals and serve the meats to the public.

- Rasbert Turner

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