My experience in a food processing factory

 

Joel Savage in a food factory's dressing code

Agriculture and food production are practical and fascinating fields of human activity because we eat not only to survive but also to maintain our health. I had the chance to work in one of Belgium's well-known food companies, and my experience motivated me to write this article.

 

This article's importance lies in describing how food manufacturing has benefited the Belgian government's economy and citizens' health because of the rigorous hygienic procedures and guidelines that workers must meticulously follow to produce high-quality food.

 

I was a little anxious about the questions when the employment agency called to tell me that I would be working at the "Fine Food Factory," a food factory that supplies tons of food to the well-known store "Colruyt" across Belgium, but that I would also need to take tests on safety procedures and regulations about working in the food industry.

 

Behind the computer at the work agency are about 10 pages of articles in Dutch that discuss food production, safety, and hygiene procedures that one must adhere to before working in a food plant. I answered the questions after reading, but I wasn't certain of the results or the outcome.

 

I had seventy percent, which allowed me to start working, but before I could enter the food factory to get started, I was astonished to learn about the company's dress code and standards, which made me realize why Africa lags behind in many areas of our lives without advancement.

 

The dressing mode is very challenging, but it's essential because even a small deviation from the prescribed safety precautions might harm the final product's quality and could result in food poisoning. Everyone is required to cover their heads or hair, including those who have beards.

 

Additionally, you must wash your hands well and wear white overalls and white shoes before you can enter the plant. Following a brief press conference discussing the issues or suggestions, employees eagerly start working in different departments under one roof.

 

Factory overalls are not allowed in the cafeteria for lunch or break; you must remove them in the dressing room to prevent contamination. After eating, you return to change your clothes once more before going into the plant that processes food.

 

The trained personnel standing beside the machines not only correctly pack the turkey, chicken, and sausage, but they also pack them firmly so they can be kept in cold conditions for a few days before the expiration date.

 

As I work around the clock, I wonder and wish my nation's government would establish such significant food factories throughout Ghana, like what the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, did to support the economy, create jobs, and generate foreign exchange for the country in exports.

 

There are many Asian products in Europe and America, but not many from Africa, indicating that the African market in food production is facing challenges. It may also be that African leaders want the population to depend more on local consumption products or foods.

 

Ghana still has a long way to go because corruption has destroyed all of the food businesses Kwame Nkrumah established, including the cocoa industry. Many people anticipate that President John Mahama will revive all of the abandoned Nkrumah factories to provide jobs for the young people.