Cardinal Cream raises consumer-concerns;
Consumer Affairs says there’s no problem

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Left~~ BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CONSEQUENT to the limited availability of Carnation evaporated milk, Cardinal Cream was introduced by the Supply Office to the consumers of the Federation about two months ago.

The Supply Office carried out general tasting and testing at various sites throughout both islands and launched the Cardinal Cream, which was viewed as a more viable option. However, many consumers and retailers are concerned about their adjustment to the new commodity as hundreds complain about the “poor quality” of the product.

SKNVibes contacted a prominent shop owner, who claimed that after receiving numerous complaints enquired from the Supply Office what properties the commodity comprise and the difference between it and the Carnation brand.

He explained that the Cardinal Cream is produced by one of the leading dairy products factories in the world, Gloria. He further explained that the Cardinal Cream has two new ingredients that were not in the Carnation milk and cited that the Carnation milk contained animal fat and had no vitamins in it, while the Cardinal Cream contained vegetable fat with vitamins A and E.

The businessman added that he was told that the response to the Cardinal Cream is merely a transition in acquiring the taste, and was reminded that it was a similar problem with the introduction of the Carnation milk. He was also told that the Cardinal Cream is of a much better quality than the Carnation milk.

Rosalyn Hazelle, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, in speaking to SKNVibes, said the Ministry carried out taste testing at Horsford’s Value Mart and on the Bay Road among other places. She indicated that out of a group of 60 persons who tasted the new product during a blind test, only one person preferred Carnation milk.

“I think we have a tendency to get stuck on a certain brand and so we have a preference to that. The reality is that we are a society that may not be as quick to change; it was similar with Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.”
 
She explained that the Cardinal Cream was introduced for two main reasons. Firstly, she revealed that she was informed that the small Carnation milk was only being produced for the internal market in Panama, and that attempts to get from alternative suppliers in Canada would make the product too expensive. So, the supply of Carnation was discontinued as the Ministry “sourced to find another brand to be introduced into society to meet the needs of those who could not afford [the commodity]”.

Hazelle added that another reason was that, although the Federation has had a 40-year consumer relationship with Carnation, when the demand for milk increased elsewhere, the nation was “short-changed” as its supply was drastically reduced by late May of this year.

The Ambassador stressed that it was not a situation of choosing one brand over the other, but that the Ministry had to turn to Cardinal Cream to address the demand.

Ambassador Hazelle mentioned that cases of Cardinal Cream have been sent to the Multi-purpose Lab as part of a standard procedure of quality control to make sure the commodity is safe for general consumption. 

She noted that the results from these tests would be made known within two weeks.