Unannounced Inspections of Food Warehouses and Tuck Shops in Limpopo
The Limpopo Executive Council met to address the surge of food poisoning incidents reported across schools in the province.
The EXCO resolved to prioritise unannounced inspections or raids of food warehouses and vendors to ensure compliance with health regulations.
It has also recommended that a joint operating committee be formed to devise a strategy in response to this issue.
The EXCO is calling for a ban on unsafe snacks from brands identified as containing foreign objects or lacking expiry dates.
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The Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) Municipal Health Services initiated a comprehensive Food Safety Campaign targeting tuck shops in and around the villages of Senwabarwana on Thursday.
The campaign was conducted jointly with the Senwabarwana South African Police Services (SAPS).
CDM Municipal Health Services visited tuck shops in Marais, Dilaeneng, and Senwabarwana township.
Inspections and raids of tuck shops were conducted to ensure compliance with health regulations.
“Expired and unfit food items were removed from shelves, and fines were imposed on businesses found to be in violation of municipal health by-laws.”
“Ensuring food safety and proper health is a mandate of the municipality. It is for this reason, and due to recent incidents of deaths in the country allegedly linked to food poisoning, that tuck shops were visited today. The campaign focused on tuck shops situated close to schools,” said the statement.