SRC Ready to Offer Food and Water Testing to Safeguard Public Health

The Scientific Research Council (SRC) is reaffirming its commitment to stand with communities and businesses recovering from the recent hurricane, offering reliable food and water testing to help safeguard public health during this vulnerable period.

Team Leader for Analytical Services at the SRC, Ray-Anne Shaw Phillips, says the organisation understands the challenges people are facing and is ready to provide the support needed to ensure their essential resources remain safe.

“The SRC offers comprehensive testing of both food and water. We test… for micro-organisms present in the food or water, which are typically associated with illness, foodborne illness or water-related illnesses,” she told JIS News in an interview.

She stressed that households using tanks, catchment systems or bottled water, as well as businesses relying on water for daily operations, should verify safety through proper testing.

The Team Leader also cautioned that the impacts of a hurricane continue long after the winds die down, as the risk of illness often rises in the days that follow. She urged the public to remain alert and avoid worsening the situation by consuming unsafe food or water, stressing the importance of keeping these concerns at the forefront during recovery.

Mrs. Shaw Phillips noted that the SRC is willing to discuss access for those directly affected.

“We’re willing to have discussions… to accommodate persons who may be affected. So, I would say call us and we will discuss, on a case-by-case basis, how you can access some of the services provided here,” she added.

Residents, business operators and other groups can access the Scientific Research Council’s services by calling 876-927-1771-4, emailing edoffice@src.gov.jm, visiting the entity’s website at src.gov.jm or reaching out on its social media platforms, including Instagram and X at SRC Jamaica and Facebook at Scientific Research Council Jamaica.

“Once you contact us and you describe the situation, we will go through the process of having these samples tested for you,” she said.