Consumer Reports Raise Food-Safety Questions

By: Summer Kennard KOROR, Palau — “I just threw away the food and had to buy another one. ” One consumer’s response after finding a bandage in prepared food points to a larger public-health question: Are consumers in Palau aware of where and how to report suspected food-safety problems? Island Times spoke with five consumers who described separate experiences involving ready-made or prepared food purchased from local businesses and vendors. Their accounts included finding a hair, what appeared to be a fingernail or toenail, a piece of plastic and a bandage in food, as well as concerns that food appeared spoiled. The incidents happened at different times, from last month to earlier this year. The reports do not establish how often such incidents occur in Palau.

But they highlight the need for proper food handling, regular monitoring and clear reporting channels, particularly as more people rely on ready-made food from convenience stores, markets, delis and other food vendors. A 27-year-old consumer said they recently found a hair in an onigiri purchased from a gas station convenience store. The consumer said the incident occurred last week, between Aug. 17 and 22, and that they reported it directly to the business. “They just took it in and said thank you for reporting,” the consumer said. The consumer did not report the incident to a government agency, saying they were on their lunch break and did not have time. “I didn’t have time. I was on my lunch break,” the consumer said. A 52-year-old teacher described another incident several months ago involving what appeared to be a person’s nail in food purchased from an outlet of a large supermarket. The teacher said they could not determine whether the object was a fingernail or toenail. The concern was reported to the…