Food safety workshop
The Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) conducted an environmental health day workshop for local entrepreneurs on food safety at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sport Centre recently.
The awareness day, which was initiated by the International Federation of Environmental Health, was launched in 2012.
CHDM community health services manager Siyabulela Vellim said this year’s theme was “Food Safety and Sustainability” which aimed to persuade businesses owners to handle food hygienically to avoid food-borne diseases.
Vellim said, “We decided to host the workshop in Enoch Mgijima as an economic hub with an influx of food handlers. The entrepreneurs received pamphlets to curb diseases such as listeriosis which recently affected SA.”
The awareness targeted bakeries, restaurants and butcheries, with owners shown how to apply basic procedures and rules to prevent food contamination.
The informal sector business operators were also welcomed to attend the workshop although Vellim said a separate workshop was underway for street hawkers.
“Some businesses do not comply with the legislation and it is the district municipality’s function to enforce by-laws.
“We will have the power to give them spot fines and take them to court because the legislation we are using is broad which will be able to assist CHDM.”
He said community members had a number of complaints about spaza shops and other informal food premises regarding the selling of expired food.
A campaign, Operation Gqogqa, was under way to look at expired goods.
“We will involve stakeholders such as the South African Police Service and the department of agriculture to fight the problem.”