Radcliffe Robinson and Milford Williams, Contributors
Tastee Cheeze emerging from the Dairy Industries processing plant on Washington Boulevard in St. Andrew. - FILE
GRACEKENNEDY has had to manage its way around a ban on its famous Tastee Cheeze in the Canadian market.
Erwin Burton, chief operating officer of the GraceKennedy's food trading division, said the Canadian government does not allow imports of canned Tastee Cheeze because it contains a natural preservative known as niacin.
He said this situation does not obtain in the United States where it is listed as one of the Generally Regarded as Safe Products (GRSP).
"We had to recall everything we sold to the stores and shops as well as whatever was in the (Canadian supply) tube" said GraceKennedy sales manager in Canada. George Leong.
The ban was first placed in 2004 and was followed by vigorous negotiations.
But the Canadian authorities appear to be holding out against the inclusion of the ingredient called niacin, a member of the vitamin B-complex.
PUBLIC HEALTH
One source said the Canadians argued that niacin is not good for public health during winter when there is little sunshine.
But the ban imposed by Health Canada, the country's federal department responsible for health care, does not apply to Tastee cheeses generally.
As a result, the company switched its supply line to a different cheese without the niacin.
Grace is now exporting its chilled block Tastee Cheeze, which does not contain niacin.
The product has to be refrigerated because of the absence of the niacin preservative.
"To meet specific requirements of the market, we launched a Grace branded, canned processed cheese in 2005," Ms. Jones said. "This is manufactured in Canada and now being sold by us alongside the block Tastee Cheeze."
Corporate communications manager Lorraine Jones said the ban would not significantly hurt their earnings as that particular cheese line represents less than one per cent of total cheese production. GraceKennedy earns US$100, 000 per annum from its cheese exports to Canada.
