Held under the theme “Safeguarding the Plate: Advancing Food Safety Across the Caribbean,” the meeting brought together food safety professionals, policymakers, technical experts, and regional stakeholders to strengthen cooperation, share knowledge, and advance food safety systems across the Caribbean.
The meeting occurred at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort with remarks from representatives of the Ministry of Health Grenada, the CARICOM Secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and CAHFSA. Over the course of the meeting, sessions focused on key priority areas outlined in the CTFS Three-Year Work Plan, including food safety capacity building, laboratory strengthening, food safety culture, legislative frameworks, risk assessment and traceability, Codex work, and the use of innovative technologies to support stronger surveillance and risk management.
As part of the World Food Safety Day 2026 activities, the programme also highlighted the important role of youth engagement through the Inter-Secondary School Food Safety Debate 2026, held under the message “Food Safety Starts With Me.” The debate finals featured Happy Hill Secondary School and St. Joseph’s Convent, St. George’s, providing students with an opportunity to research, present, and defend key food safety issues in a professional setting.
The debate was also supported by members of the CTFS leadership, including CTFS Chairperson, Dr. Patricia Johnson, and Vice Chairperson, Ms. Henrietta Alexander, who served as judges for the event. Dr. Johnson also delivered a keynote address, encouraging the students to recognize their role as young advocates for food safety and public health.
The CTFS Annual Meeting reinforces the shared regional commitment to ensuring that safe food remains a priority across the entire food chain — from production and processing to post-harvest handling, laboratories, markets, and consumers.
Through continued collaboration, technical exchange, and capacity building, CAHFSA, the CTFS, and their partners remain committed to advancing the vision of safe food, healthy people, and a stronger Caribbean region.
Join us as we acknowledge World Food Safety Day on June 07th 2026
