Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said that regulations will be passed in Antigua & Barbuda this year to make the labeling of bread and other pastry products mandatory.
“In fact at some point we will be introducing regulations to make sure that individuals who sell bread especially the large suppliers like Brownie and so on, that they put the ingredients on the bread,” the prime minister announced on his radio show.
“We must know how much fat, how much sugar and how much salt,” he said.
The prime minister did not specify a date for the implementation of the regulations.
He said in the absence of those regulations, he wants residents to exercise some level of self regulation with regard to what they eat.
“…make sure that they do things in moderation,” Browne said.
He said the cost to the state is becoming too high “its excessive and strenuous on the government.”
“Above and beyond that these illnesses are literally reducing the productivity of our people. I believe the issue of non-communicable diseases is probably the biggest development challenge facing the country at this time.”
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Long overdue! We need to know what we are consuming. Nutrients and calories matter.
Bakeries behind time, get the products properly labelled. This also adds a bit to advertising your products.
This is ridiculous. I think they should be able to make the bread with as much salt sugar as can fit, if I’m paying my money I want the most salt and sugar possible. Don’t try to stinge me on ingredients!
STINGY SALT AND SUGAR- ANTICIPATED BREAD LABELING LAW
Ah! Ha!
So you want your bread …Salty and Pastry Sugary?’
Man shall not live by ‘…Salty Bread’ alone’ though.
Well, if it isn’t, sure that any ‘…Unsalted or half-salted or ‘…Stingily-salted bread’ can easily be supplemented with ‘…Pickled Pig’s tail and mouth; and, of course …Salted beef.’
Added ‘…Salt and Sugar,’ can get these at Christos.
If you have to drive to get ‘…Bread,’ not only ensure that ‘…you get your moneys worth in Salt,’ drive carefully and park properly.
Not on High Street though.
Limited parking might make you run from ‘…ebry thing Salty; ‘…Bread; …pig tail and mouth; …salted beef; …Traffic Police and Traffic Wardens’ too.
Best place might be, ‘…Old Parham Road.’
But watch up ‘dey too.’
The ‘…elongated potholes at the junction’ might limit your ability to purchase sufficient ‘…Salty Bread.’
Then there is the issue of compliance with the ‘…anticipated legislated ‘…Bread Labeling Law.’
Seems that ‘…Bread or Pastry’ may not necessarily taste ‘…palatably Salty or Sugary’ after all.
Follow the Scripture then.
Can also try baking some ‘…Unleavened Bread.’
Good move P.M. It’s about time but it may cause the bakeries to increase the price of bread.
That might help us all eat less bread
Dat ah tru…needs to be done, also the date bread was made needs to be printed so we can know when they sellin us stale bread…that happen way to often…
Agree with this , food is food , bread is bread, expiry date and contents gone into product I dont know why hotdog buns can come a yellow colour , why?
Brilliant idea! People that have food allergies also need to know what ingredients are in the foods they are trying to consume.
good
Yes finally, been complaining about this for years. They have been shooting their own self in the foot since the lack of it, has led some to bread coming from overseas. Good to see A&B moving into the current century
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock!
“To educate the masses politically does not mean, cannot mean, making a political speech. What it means is to try, relentlessly and passionately, to teach the masses that everything depends on them; that if we stagnate it is their responsibility, and that if we go forward it is due to them too, that there is no such thing as a demiurge, that there is no famous man who will take the responsibility for everything, but that the demiurge is the people themselves and the magic hands are finally only the hands of the people.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
Where is the ISO Certified ABBS! “The Bureau of Standards is a statutory body established under the Standards Act (Cap 411) to promote and encourage the maintenance of mandatory and voluntary standards in relation to goods, services, processes and practices. It has responsibility for monitoring the manufacture of goods and the production of services to both local and international standards.”
Why do you need to use the Big Man Syndrome to reach the People of African Descent! We must build solid institutions for National Development and Growth and a Caribbean Civilization!
Here’s what the International ISO Organization says to the World about the ABBS: “The work of the ABBS presently consists mainly of information services that are supported by training workshops in areas such as Metrology and ISO 9000 awareness, quality systems, Internal audits and Food Safety (HACCP) systems. … Standards Development and responses to product-related complaints are dealt with in cooperation with various private and public organisations as well as other regional bureaux.”
“Everything can be explained to the people, on the single condition that you really want them to understand.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
That is good, but most people buy bread when it is hot usually with butter and cheese or something else inside ,how will that work
Place the ingredients on the door.
lol
Really? It’s flour, yeast, water and butter. A coconut tart contains coconut, a raisin role contains raisins.
Who is going to pay for the cost of those labels? In St.kitts each bakery uses a different color twist tie, so you go with the bakery you like.
I agree with this
Sorry but our bakers are nit that sophisticated to know how much of each ingredient is in de making of the product. They will need some help from the authorities.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “There is a dramatic conflict in what is commonly called the human sciences. Should we postulate a typical human reality and describe its psychic modalities, taking into account only the imperfections, or should we not rather make a constant, solid endeavor to understand man in an everchanging light?” ― Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks!
“The Bureau of Standards is a statutory body established under the Standards Act (Cap 411) to promote and encourage the maintenance of mandatory and voluntary standards in relation to goods, services, processes and practices. It has responsibility for monitoring the manufacture of goods and the production of services to both local and international standards.” – Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards!
“The Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards (ABBS) is the National Standards Body (NSB) of Antigua and Barbuda, established under the Standards Act (1987), Cap.411 of the Revised Laws of Antigua and Barbuda 1992. The ABBS has responsibility for the promotion and promulgation of standards and standards related matters that are relevant to the sustainable development of the nation’s economy.
“The ABBS participates in the work of standardisation at both the regional level as a member of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), and at the international level being a signatory to the WTO/TBT Code of Good Practice for Standardization and having responsibility for the National Enquiry Point for the WTO/TBT Agreement.
“The work of the ABBS presently consists mainly of information services that are supported by training workshops in areas such as Metrology and ISO 9000 awareness, quality systems, Internal audits and Food Safety (HACCP) systems. The ABBS, however, is currently engaged in developing legislation and acquiring infrastructure that will provide a capacity for offering metrology services as well as other testing services. Standards Development and responses to product-related complaints are dealt with in cooperation with various private and public organisations as well as other regional bureaux.” – ISO Organization
“An endless task, the cataloguing of reality. We accumulate facts, we discuss them, but with every line that is written, with every statement that is made, one has the feeling of incompleteness.” ― Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks!
Whilst I agree that this is in keeping with proper nutritional guidelines and is long overdue, I am concerned that the cost associated with this requirement would be passed on the consumers and would make the products more expensive. A bread, a patty or a bun is a daily staple for some who cannot afford a ore expensive breakfast. The price of these items might be put outside the range of the “street man.”
The cost of health Care is extremely expensive. We are aware that we are a product of what we consumed. Sugar, Salt etc.,are Killing Black people with Diabetes and High blood pressure. Take warning folk’s the government is moving in the right direction.
Why are we concerned that the bread maker will face hardship, an unregulated multi million dollar market that is harming us. Unlike the French, our bread is heaavy. Eat less bun and bread!!!!! We now need healthy alternatives.
Every day bucket go to well….
Exactly. More concerned about profits than people’s health and awareness. That is just crazy, but it says a lot about the state of mankind. “Man to man is so unjust”
Yeah! We are becoming more and more health conscious, and sophisticated. This is after all, the 21st Century, and Our “great thinkers,” and leaders are guiding Us down, up, around the corner, across the street on the Yellow Brick Roads, to Utopia!
However, along the way lining these Yellow Brick Roads are businesses such as, bakeries, restaurants, dancehall venues, roadside vendors, B&B’s, hotels, hostels, and brothels.
All of these businesses prepared, and sell foods, be they baked, fried, boiled, roasted, grilled!
The bakeries are not, the only ones, that use flour, water, yeast, oils, nuts, fruits, baking soda, baking powder etc, in their products.
Therefore, the question now begs, since, Our great thinkers have decided to, allegedly single out bakeries AND bread for SPECIFIC LABELLING, as to the ingredients, etc, what of the following…
1…Roast Cha-Cha dumpling.
2…Boil dumplings in Pepperpot and soups.
3…Fry dumplings/bakes sold with fry fish or shad.
4…Fungi, a part of the National dish.
5…Rum cakes, puddings, pound cakes, buns, tarts, cinnamon rolls.
6…Bread pudding made from yesterdays or the day before stale bread.
7…Cornmeal porridge, it may be boiled, but it has in ingredients similar, to some baked goods.
8…Not finally, because the list could stretch the length of, the Yellow Brick Road, but, but, the new in thing PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA!
Yeah! A damn good idea, to have bread “labelled” with their ingredients, however, the Bakery will now have to employ, besides an attorney, a Nutritionist, a Chemist, a Biologist and they all have to have PhD’s!
Rastaman, stick wid Roast Carn, dem dun kno, a wah it cum wid. Carn husk, and ashes! De carn husk a de toot-pic r floss, de ashes, a de toot-paste, de carn cab, a de toot brush! And, no talk bout de health benefits!
RAS SMOOD’S SUGGESTIONS – RAS SCIENTIST
Yes Ras.
You have not only asked a very good question about ‘…food ingredients,’ but also possible employment of;
(i) ‘…An attorney;
(ii) …A Nutritionist;
(iii) …A Chemist; and
(iv) …Biologist.’
But Ras, what the hell ‘I n I’ thinking?
A Chemist, fine.
In case the darn Bread starts to ‘…give the eater trouble or belly start to bubble and the eater has to hobble somewhere fast.
Hell work if that happens on a Bus.
Anyway, can do like ‘…Lord Nelson’ when travelling on a plane from New York to Piarco Airport (Trinidad)’ [Lord Nelson’s Calamity: YouTube].
‘Nutritionist,’ fine.
Guess ‘…Bread Eaters’ should know what the bread or pastry is made of.
A ‘Biologist,’ guess that too is also fine.
The Baker might wish to see the ‘Eater’s size to determine the ‘size of bread he/she might be sold.’
Now, an Attorney?
What for, Ras?
Tried to figure this out and only darn thing that came to mind is this, perhaps to give ‘…Legal Advice,’
However, on anything but ‘…how to bake bread and pastry.’
Two things that seem possible though;
(i) …Proper Labeling; and
(ii) …In case ‘…Bread and Pastry Eaters’ make trouble.
That is if;
(a) …The Bread is too small;
(b) …Too brown and hard; or
(c) …If the darn thing fell short of Salt and Sugar.’
Oh Lawd!
Brilliant idea for ‘…Oral Hygiene,’ Ras.
Carn Cab toot brush to remove residue from ‘teat.’
Good not only to keep away ‘…Teet and Mout Disease,’ but also from Dentists.
Smart thinker Ras. I n I know they pluck ‘…teet and money.’
But Ras, ‘I n I’ might have to Label the Teet Brush and Paste to.
Not only that ‘…Bread and Pastry Eaters’ must know what they are eating, but also what they are putting in their ‘…mout to brush and floss teet.’
With ‘…ashes as teet paste,’ they shall now call I n I, ‘…Ras Scientist.’
s
Again ‘I n I’ gone back on “…Cha-Cha Dumpling.’
But ‘Ras’ yo only tawk ’bout these foods, no mention about;
(i) ‘…Saltless and Sugarless Ital Bread and Pastries;
(ii) …Ital Fungi without Saltfish or Shad.’
Pompey, me see R we gud Fren Duncy Bat a fly again. De earthquake, mussah role way de Rock fram de Tomb, so e resurrected, and cyan fly again. Ah-men Yah! U see de fuss ting, e radar zoom in pan! Kah-boom! A de Ras weed, e want cum nyam!
So, Pompey sorry Sir, no name changes….
…No! No! No! Sah!
Your name creates a balance, to your being, as the Sound, of Word-Sound-Power brings it to your ears, your balancing Organ, and it resonates within you, to release your Power.
Smood’s has being around, since, birth; as, the characteristics runs in the bloodline, from Goldie the Grandfather to Goldie the Son, and now the holy ghost of Smood!
Now, since generations conveys ‘Time,’ and because the Universe in which We occupy a ‘Space’ in, did not create ‘Time,’ but moreso, the BALANCE of TIME, I found out, that the name Smood creates, a certain tranquil, serene, calm, peace within me, thus it let it shine in my #aura.
There you have it!
As for Ras Scientist, just google his Dub Mixes from the 1960’s, and you can get the vibes, to go with any tranquil, calm, serene, peaceful atmosphere!
……………………………….
The air has being saged, sanitized and cleared, now back to the “dough debacle,”
which Bakeries now find themselves in.
A…the Lawyer is needed to not only give, advice but to handle any litigations which may arise, due to negligence on the part, of the Bakery.
I also believe, that Bakeries are being singled out, because of the negative health issues which the Nation is facing, and BREAD a staple in many people’s diet is being blamed, as one of the culprits.
If proper dietary habits are practiced, then there’s no need to regulate bread, and bread only! What of the other food products which are produced, and consumed locally? Will they have to be “properly” labelled as well, in terms of ingredients?
I have seen many products being sold in several markets, that are not even “labelled” in the languages which we speak and communicate in, shouldn’t these products be regulated as well?
As for the, “ashes” in the toothpaste; manufactures have now removed fluoride etc, and have added such things as charcoal, the precursor of the ashes.
The corn husk now makes dental floss, since, it’s better for the gums, and the environment. The cob from the corn can be separated, and parts, of it used in other food products, as well. Bear in mind, a percentage of wood fiber is allowed in certain forms, of process cheeses; which can end up in your pizza, made from “dough” too!
We need regulations yes, but well thought out ones, that do not discriminate, nor alienate businesses due to poor choices and behavior by the public, because in the long run, the same public will bear the brunt, of the cost to implement these regulations!
Ok then. I held back commenting but with all this I have to weigh in. When this news item broke my brother Rock Head and I were having a discussions as to whether the “likkle weed” in the sugar cake must be disclosed also. He is saying they only have to disclosed if the sugar cakes have in more than 15 gramms! I told him no sugar cake must have in no weed in the fuss place! Who is correct?
Me see de Earthquake roll way de Rock, fram fu Tomb, so U get resurrected, cyan spread U wings, but U blind Duncy Bat rass, dat a feel de Rack wid U radar, an tink a U Bruddah e be, bettah set, U raddah pan, subben else besides Ras Smood likkle weed. Me kno U dunce, and blind,
lakkah Blinds, but U cyan so drunk, lakkah Raycan. U bettah go find, de Red Herring, dat Tenman a drag bout de place, fu nyam wid U bread!
DUNCY BAT AND ROCK HEAD
Not a bad combination’
One is ‘Duncy’ as a ‘Bat, and the other’s ‘…Head’ is as hard as ‘…Rock.’
Good arguments though.
Let’s see if this can be mathematically correct.
Not sure if ‘…15 Grammes’ are adequate to make enough ‘…Sugar cakes’ for a ‘…meaningful profit margin.’
Darn well know that ‘…15 Grammes’ might not even be enough for ‘…two roaches.’
Don’t think about ‘…cockroaches’ though.
Buy insecticide for these flying insects.’
Dependent on the quantity of sugar, the ‘…Sugar cakes might be too sweet.’
Ras Smood, now ‘Ras Sci,’ and other ‘…Dreads and Baldheads could never get ‘irie.’
Still good discussions between a ‘…Dunce and a block Head.’
Let’s wait and hear what quantity ‘…Ras Sci’ might recommend.
Me kno, Duncy Bat blind, but Dunce, wet U hand a wait pan dah wan dey!
Wait dey, 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔👀👀👀bell a ring, lakkah de ‘Ole time subben, wen NEWS A FLASH…
…A wah de man a say?
…hush r U mouth!
…tap nyam so hard!
…lard gad! Me kno de hot bread bettah and cheese,
…sweet, sweet sweet!
…but, please! Manners please!
…R else, guarne go a street!
…WAH! A WAH YAH!
…De bell man a say,
…dat, dem fire Dean Jonas
…fram, teeday!
…nutten, tarl cyan go so!
…de PM, tell he rass!
…pack U bungle, and leave go!
…no, cum back yah, no moh!
…U nar pull up U sacks,
…neither, U slacks!
…me cyant afford dat
…’cause, me haffu justify
…all dem, new Tax!
…so, all dem saggin!
…mek R we look,
…lakkah, wan tun a crooks
…since, ebrie ting lagging!
…and, cyant justify, all dem spending!
…Samantha! Samantha! Samantha!
…me want U, fu cum tweddle
U nose!
…and, Bewitch dem wid likkle Obeah!
……………………….
…Duncy Bat, me no forget bout U!
…So, Pompey, dis a wah me plan fu do.
…Me kno, e no dunce!
…E Obstinate, lakkah de wan
…dat, mek all dem money
.. wen he sing, “Garrat Bounce,”
…offah dem Tomians & Crusians!
…me Dear gud fren Duncy Bat,
…in steddah, de fifteen grams!
…how about, Fifteen Pound a weed?
…full a plenty seed!
…since, U cyan grind dem up
…just, lakkah coconut!
…den mek de sugarcake!
…’cause, U dun kno!
…dem Garrat neargah, lub fu nyam!
…lard gad, wen de sugarcake and dem dun!
…dem run out hard, lakkah Rack!
…de neargah an dem so bex!
…dem, start stone e wid dem!
…and, knack um dung flat!
…e tink, e smart! E cyan tek dat!
…no cum mess wid, I n I Ras!
Me see de Earthquake roll way de Rock, fram fu U Tomb, so U get resurrected, cyan spread U wings, but U blind Duncy Bat rass, dat a feel de Rack wid U radar, an tink a U Bruddah e be, bettah set, U raddah pan, subben else besides Ras Smood likkle weed. Me kno U dunce, and blind,
lakkah Blinds, but U cyan go so drunk, lakkah Raycan. U bettah go find, de Red Herring, dat Tenman a drag bout de place, fu nyam wid U bread!
BAT AND ROCK HEAD ATTACK
Big trouble now.
Not sure whether ‘…Ras Smood’ is coming or going.
If ‘I n I’ come as a ‘Ras,’ then sure ‘I n I’ want to go back ‘…Smoodly.’
Still don’t know why the hell ‘…Duncy Bat and Rock Head’ start discussions with ‘ …Ganja Sugar Cakes,’ when this news story is all about ‘…Bread and Pastry Labeling.’
Not quite ‘…Murder’ yet, only ‘…Two to one.’
Never know what a ‘…Duncy Bat’ and a ‘…Rock Head’ would do, let alone ask.
Really not a silly question, but a ‘…Fowl Cock’ would never have asked it.
But for asking that question, can ‘teck’ out the ‘…Duncy’ one first.
Even so, in seeking to satisfy their curiosity, a ‘…Dunce and a Rock Head,’ should never make ‘I n I’ get angry.
This could develop into a ‘…vicious war between them and Ras Smood’ as to be considering the inclusion of ‘…weed as an ingredient in Sugar Cake making,’ and then ‘…Labeling it as an ingredient.’
Besides, there is already ‘…Ginger’ as an ingredient.
Tasty in coconut and peanut Sugar Cakes.
With ‘Ganja’ in them, ‘…Sugar Cake Consumers’ would have two choices.
One is ‘gingery,’ and other could make them ‘…irie.’
So then, if there is ‘…Ginger Sugar Cake,’ there could also be ‘…Ganja Sugar Cake’ as well.
One can be ‘…sold and eaten openly,’ while the other ‘…sold secretly and eaten privately.’
Even though the timing might be seen as wrong, the truth is, this is nothing new.
Ganja Sugar Cakes could have been obtained somewhere between ‘…Jennings Bridge and the Bridge’ just before the place where ‘…Radio Lighthouse’ previously operated.
With or without ‘…Ganja as an ingredient,’ and ‘…Label or no Label,’ it seems that ‘…Ras Smood’ prefer neither the ‘..non-puffing, nor gingery type of Sugar Cake.’
Thus, as much as ‘…Duncy Bat and Rock Head’ want to see the ‘…Labeling of Ganja Sugar Cakes,’ clearly, all that ‘…Ras Smood’ wants is to ‘…smoke and puff and see smoke.’
‘I n I’ can’t go on the road to ‘…puff smoke.’
Can do that openly at home or hide in the bushes and puff as much smoke as ‘I n I’ could.
But be careful.
Small farmers in the area might think it is ‘…Grass Fire’ and call Police.
What that has to do with ‘Blinds and Tenman’ ‘Ras?’
Picking fight with him too?
Yo’ better teck warning.
Me kno, Duncy Bat blind, but Dunce, wet U hand a wait pan dah wan dey!
Wait dey, 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔👀👀👀bell a ring, lakkah de ‘Ole time subben, wen NEWS A FLASH…
…A wah de man a say?
…hush r U mouth!
…tap nyam so hard!
…lard gad! Me kno de hot bread bettah and cheese,
…sweet, sweet sweet!
…but, please! Manners please!
…R else, guarne go a street!
…WAH! A WAH YAH!
…De bell man a say,
…dat, dem fire Dean Jonas
…fram, teeday!
…nutten, tarl cyan go so!
…de PM, tell he rass!
…pack U bungle, and leave go!
…no, cum back yah, no moh!
…U nar pull up U sacks,
…neither, U slacks!
…me cyant afford dat
…’cause, me haffu justify
…all dem, new Tax!
…so, all dem saggin!
…mek R we look,
…lakkah, wan tun a crooks
…since, ebrie ting lagging!
…and, cyant justify, all dem spending!
…Samantha! Samantha! Samantha!
…me want U, fu cum tweddle
U nose!
…and, Bewitch dem wid likkle Obeah!
……………………….
…Duncy Bat, me no forget bout U!
…So, Pompey, dis a wah me plan fu do.
…Me kno, e no dunce!
…E Obstinate, lakkah de wan
…dat, mek all dem money
.. wen he sing, “Garrat Bounce,”
…offah dem Tomians & Crusians!
…me Dear gud fren Duncy Bat,
…in steddah, de fifteen grams!
…how about, Fifteen Pound a weed?
…full a plenty seed!
…since, U cyan grind dem up
…just, lakkah coconut!
…den mek de sugarcake!
…’cause, U dun kno!
…dem Garrat neargah, lub fu nyam!
…lard gad, wen de sugarcake and dem dun!
…dem run out hard, lakkah Rack!
…de neargah an dem so bex!
…dem, start stone e wid dem!
…and, knack um dung flat!
…e tink, e smart! E cyan tek dat!
…no cum mess wid, I n I Ras!
STILL GOOD FRIENDS
Don’t think that our good friends ‘…Duncy Bat and Rock Head,’ want any trouble with Ras Smood.
Both only want to know about ‘…Ganja Sugar Cake Labeling.’
With ‘Ganja Sugar Cakes, ‘ guess they only want to know what they are buying and eating.
Now if you have ever ‘…Puffed The Stuff,’ or intend to do so Ras, and have to buy ‘…Weed’, sure that ‘I n I’ would want to know it is the ‘…Real Stuff’ ‘I n I’ get and not ‘…High Leaf’ or laced with it.
Since ‘…15 Grammes’ have been made legitimate to ‘…Possess and Puff,’ think it should also be labelled to avoid ‘…Customer’s Query or Dissatisfaction.’
Now ‘…15 Pounds of Ganja and Ganja Seed’ to make ‘…Ganja Sugar Cakes’ Ras?
Then that cannot be called ‘…Sugar Cake.’
Looks more like ‘…Ganja Vegetable Cake.’
Hell work after anyone eats ‘…15.’
Don’t have to throw any at ‘…Duncy and Rock Head.’
Put them down flat.
No movement for ‘…15 days.’
Think ‘I n I’ should develop a ‘…Recipe.’
That can also be placed on the ‘Label’ as well.
Howz dat, Ras?
Looked at from this angle, think it was a good discussion between ‘…Duncy Bat and Rock Head.’
Though not ‘…Bread and Pastry,’ do believe also it was a good question ‘…Duncy Bat’ has asked about Labeling ‘…Sugar Cakes’ with ingredients of ‘…Ganja and Ganja Seeds.’
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