KINGSTON, Jamaica – For many, engaging in food safety is simply a profession, but for Allison Richards, it transcends that boundary – it is a calling rooted in a lifelong passion for healthier living and community empowerment.

With more than a decade of experience as a regulatory inspector, an educational foundation that includes dual majors in Botany and Zoology from the University of the West Indies, and a forthcoming Master’s in Food Safety from Michigan State University, Richards is on a mission to transform Jamaica’s cultural approach to food safety.

The journey, which began in 2011 when she started working as a food safety inspector, is deeply personal and driven by a love for food and a commitment to making safe eating a standard, not an exception.

While carrying out those inspections she recognised a glaring gap in Jamaica’s awareness of food safety.

“When we eat food, we don’t really think about the safety aspect of it,” Richards observes, noting that her experiences highlighted the need for accessible, relatable food safety information – a need she resolved to address.

In response, in November 2023, she launched Food Safety Girl, a platform that demystifies food safety and makes it relatable to everyday Jamaicans.

“Food safety is a technical field, and we lose people because the information isn’t presented in a relatable way,” she points out.

To help bridge this gap, Richards leverages modern platforms to spread her message.

Her YouTube radio programme, hosted on RebelRadioJamaica1, which airs every Friday at 4:30 pm, offers valuable insights into food safety and empowers consumers, food handlers, and the broader community to take food safety into their own hands.

“While food safety is everybody’s business, culturally, there’s a reliance on the Government for food safety, but it’s also about the person making the food and the consumer,” Richards explains.

November 2024 marked a milestone for Food Safety Girl, one year since its launch.

To commemorate the occasion, the food safety professional organised a charity event titled, ‘Food Safety for Good’.

Initially conceived as a small gesture funded from her own pocket, the idea quickly blossomed into a larger initiative, thanks to partnerships with the Old Harbour Baptist Church and the Old Harbour Optimist Club.

With additional support from public and private sponsors, Richards and her team distributed 50 grocery bags to children, pregnant women, and the elderly – groups particularly susceptible to food safety risks.

She recalls the heartfelt gratitude she received, noting that “I had the opportunity to speak to a few of the elderly folks about food safety and some practices they could employ. Their appreciation reinforced my belief in the importance of my mission”.

While the idea of hosting the charity event may have come from a simple brainstorming session, charity runs deep in Richards’ veins.

Growing up, her mother instilled the value of giving, often opening their home to strangers in need.

“Every December, I try to share a cooked meal with someone,” Richards informs, explaining that Food Safety for Good builds on her family’s legacy of giving.

With plans to expand Food Safety Girl’s reach, collaborate with more partners, and inspire greater public involvement, her work continues to make a profound impact.

Through her expertise, compassion, and innovative approach, Richards is not just a food safety professional, she’s a pioneer, empowering Jamaicans to take control of their health and making food safety everyone’s business.

–              JIS

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