Thirty-five aspiring nutrition and dietetics professionals at The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus have completed a rigorous, industry-recognized advanced food safety training program, stepping into the regional workforce with a competitive new credential that strengthens Caribbean public health capacity.
The specialized two-and-a-half-day course, delivered by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) at the request of UWI’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension (DAEE), is part of an effort to expand micro-credential opportunities for undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world professional practice, the program focuses on hands-on, actionable skills that directly address regional food safety priorities.
Over the course of the training, participants mastered core competencies including best practices for safe food handling, rigorous hygiene and sanitation protocols, strategies to prevent cross-contamination and foodborne illness outbreaks, and methods to mitigate time and temperature abuse across every stage of the food supply chain. Trainees also emphasized the critical need for consistent food safety compliance at every link of the food chain, from production to consumer service.
The program, the internationally accredited ServSafe® Train-the-Trainer Advanced Food Safety Certification Course issued under the National Restaurant Association, was led by a multidisciplinary team of CARPHA experts: Keston Daniel, Visitor-based Surveillance Coordinator for CARPHA’s Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP); Dr. Sastee Kissoondan, Senior Technical Officer for Planning and Coordination in the Office of the Executive Director; and Frieda Mohammed, THP Standards and Training Officer.
Opening the first day of the program, Daniel highlighted the strategic importance of the inter-institutional partnership in building the next generation of Caribbean public health leaders. “CARPHA’s THP is proud to collaborate with The UWI in equipping future Nutrition and Dietetics professionals to champion food safety and protect public health. This partnership reinforces our shared commitment to building healthier and safer Caribbean communities,” he said in official remarks.
All 35 participating interns successfully completed both the training and final certification examination. Graduates who meet all credential requirements will receive an advanced food safety certification valid for five years, a qualification that extends far beyond a line item on a resume.
According to CARPHA’s official press release announcing the completion of the program, the new certification not only boosts graduates’ employability across the region’s food and health sectors but also provides them with specialized tools to lead food safety outreach and reduce the frequency of dangerous foodborne disease outbreaks across the Caribbean.
The initiative also underscores a growing regional consensus on the value of combining traditional academic degree programs with practical, globally recognized skills training—an approach that aligns with ongoing efforts by Caribbean nations to strengthen national and regional public health and food safety systems.