onathan Cranston MSc, a trainee specialist in the Food Safety and Environmental Laboratory department at BONLAB, completed an internship at Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) in the Netherlands in May 2025. This internship offered him a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and experience across various departments within WFSR, including classical microbiology, molecular analysis, and chemical analysis.
The purpose of the internship was to become familiar with the internal processes, analytical methods, and quality standards applied by WFSR. BONLAB has recently established a specialized food safety department and is currently in a phased implementation and rollout of the related processes and quality assurance systems. This development marks a significant step for the laboratory in strengthening its expertise and services in the field of food safety.
WFSR serves as the national reference laboratory for food safety in the Netherlands and conducts analyses on behalf of the Dutch government. The institute plays a central role in both the routine monitoring of food safety under European regulations and in crisis situations. A recent example includes the outbreak of hepatitis A linked to contaminated blueberries sold at supermarket chain Albert Heijn. WFSR was deployed to quickly and accurately identify the source and help prevent further spread.
Relevance for Bonaire
Bonaire is growing rapidly, both in terms of population and tourism, which has led to an increasing demand for food. At the same time, prices are rising, pushing importers to source food products from various countries in order to offer affordable options. However, this comes with risks in terms of food safety. Currently, Bonaire lacks binding regulations or standardized procedures for testing (imported) food products.
In Europe, imported food products are strictly controlled under EU regulations. Rotterdam serves as a major import port where products are inspected before being distributed throughout the EU. By taking this practice as an example, Bonaire can work towards a safer and more reliable food supply chain.
BONLAB as a Catalyst
BONLAB is actively working to implement a similar approach for Bonaire. This includes not only gaining knowledge from institutions like WFSR but also engaging in dialogue with local food producers. The goal is to jointly explore opportunities for product analysis that contribute to higher product quality and food safety on the island.
Call to Local Producers
Are you a local food producer on Bonaire and interested in exploring how food analysis can enhance the quality and reliability of your products? Please feel free to contact us at foodsafety@bonairelab.org. BONLAB is happy to discuss the possibilities and benefits of a collaborative effort toward food safety on the island.
