The Tribune

By ANNELIA NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

A senior official yesterday reassured that cut-price eggs imported by Super Value are safe by disclosing that the product met “all the requisite protocols” relating to food health.

Neil Campbell, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources’ permanent secretary, said The Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA) had addressed any safety concerns over the eggs that have been imported from outside The Bahamas’ regular supply source, the US.

“We’re all trying to bring down the price of eggs to a considerable, an acceptable amount,” Mr Campbell said. “And today, we’re glad to say that the Super Value chain of stores, they would [have] reached out to the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, referenced the sources of eggs from some other areas who we’ve been trading with for a number of years, and we would have placed them in the hands of BAHFSA who is in charge all of those safety concerns, meeting all the requisite protocols and everything else.

“And today we are pleased to say that through that initiative, we have now brought down the price of eggs to $3.79. Once you add VAT, it is now $4.78. So it’s another initiative brought on by the Ministry of Agriculture, where we would have heard the cries of the public, the nation, and received directives. Hence we’re here today, just to say that this is just one part of the overall success of Agriculture and Marine Resources. 

“Whoever reaches out to the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, we look at their proposals, we send it on to the various agencies like BAHFSA, and then we make a determination once we look at their safety measures in those particular countries as well.” BAHFSA declined to comment when Tribune Business sought comment.

Michael Turner, owner of Jumper Brothers Bakery, also dismissed health and safety concerns over the cut-price eggs that Super Value is selling as its own brand. “I don’t think a company like them would jeopardise their reputation,” he said. “They’re the main hub in The Bahamas. They have the clientele. So, I think they may genuinely be trying to get something cheaper for the people.

“I’m understanding that what happened [was] the middle man got cut out. So by the middle man getting cut out, it was able to affect cost. So I don’t suspect anything. My mind is very open with that.  Some persons were saying that, but I dismiss that because I don’t think they would risk their reputation on eggs with a cheaper price and come to find out they’re inferior. No, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t do it.

“Some were saying something isn’t right. Then some were saying it’s coming from another country and it isn’t English because the box doesn’t have an English name on it. It’s a strange packaging. It’s different. And then also the packaging has Super Value pressed on the top of it like a sticker.”

Mr Turner said he bought a case of Super Value-branded eggs, which is 30 dozen eggs, for $124, adding that lately he has been paying $300. Noting that he tried to keep his pastry prices down while the price of eggs sky-rocketed, he now has the option to purchase eggs at a cheaper price he has to see if things will “balance”.

“That’s the problem right now,” Mr Turner said. “It went down. It fly back up. Went down. My pastry price didn’t change. But what it did, it eat into me, because I’d try and see if it’s going to balance. So what’s going to have to happen, I have to go up because they keep going up and down. Like one day I went to the store, I paid $300 total. The next day I went back there. I paid over $300 - $320 something - per case.

“The next day I went back there, I was paying over $300, $320, and it keep going up and down. And I’m talking about every week, every couple of days. So in my case, I try to keep the cost down, because I know how to do that, but a lot of persons don’t know. But it’s been really, really hard to survive, because here it is, you’re trying to make a profit but the extra money you have, you have to take it and put it on eggs...

“Eggs used to be like $100 a case… but I’ve never seen eggs in my life at this proportion. Like I actually saw eggs for $400 one day. Some people overpricing now, and they don’t even understand food costs. So therefore that price going up. They’re going up.”

Mr Turner, however, is “concerned” about egg demand and supply. With the public stocking up on the Super Value-branded eggs and another shipment not due until March 18, he said demand outweighs supply, which could result in businesses such as his own having to resort back to purchasing more expensive eggs. 

“Then also what’s happening is that the eggs were going so fast, until the guy said to me ‘we had two pallets in here’. They were down to half of a pallet left. That means within a couple of hours, a whole pallet of eggs were gone,” Mr Turner said.

“I won’t be afraid. I’m concerned. There’s a difference. If there’s a great demand, and supply is limited, then prices rise. Even the farmers, when you go to them, they want to save you the eggs for the same price you buy in the food store. So therefore you can’t win. I got a purchase from a farmer. He sold it for the same price it was in the shop. I was desperate so I had to buy it. So it’s a real fight out there.”