The Grenada Organisation for Consumer Affairs (GrenOCA) is expressing concern about the quality of food boxes being brought into the island as a replacement to Styrofoam boxes. GrenOCA has received several complaints from consumers regarding the quality of the boxes and according to GrenOCA’s President Milton Coy, the organisation has investigated the matter and noted that the concerns are to be taken seriously. He said, it is not just a product of inferior quality but a health issue as well.

There are reports that the boxes are of substandard quality and the food often sticks on the boxes or soaks through them, if there’s any liquid content in the food. Coy said several restaurant owners and consumers were contacted and also had concerns about the quality of the boxes.

Government banned the use of Styrofoam boxes as part of its initiative to protect the environment in keeping with the Non-Biodegradable Waste Control Act, which was passed in Parliament last year.

It said the second phase will be a ban on the sale of Styrofoam in the tri-island state, effective March 1 this year, and by April 1, 2019, prohibiting the sale and offer for sale of food in or with these products. Ultimately, there should be “zero Styrofoam across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique”, Climate Resilience and the Environment Minister Simon Stiell said during a post cabinet briefing last year.

Stiell describes the Non-Biodegradable Waste Control Act as “progressive legislation” which seeks to regulate the use of non-biodegradable products, with a view to reducing the negative environmental impacts and improving the health of Grenadians.

The consumer organisation is calling on local authorities to ensure that any containers – boxes replacing the Styrofoam and other non-biodegradable items should be of “an acceptable quality” and they do not pose further health risks to consumers. It is imperative that with the replacement of Styrofoam containers, we are progressing and not regressing in our standards.

According to the Grenada Bureau of Standards, there is no standard in place for these boxes and consumers should report their concerns to the place of purchase.

The legislation also places a ban on single use-handled shopping bags. The importation ban on these bags, as well as other single-use plastics, such as cutlery, plates and cups, came into effect on February 1 this year.