Know the safety of what you buy and eat – City warns

The CoE is intensifying its food hygiene and safety inspections at food-handling premises.

To safeguard residents’ safety, the city’s environmental health practitioners (EHPs) urge the public to be vigilant about what they eat and drink and only buy food from premises with a Certificate of Acceptability.

This city issues the certificate after inspections confirm that the premises meet all food safety requirements.

It must be displayed in the shop for all to see or produced on demand. If not, consumers can request to see the certificate for the premises.

ALSO READ: Thembisa artist falls victims to food poisoning

Consumers must also note the date markings on products and understand their meanings:

• Date of minimum durability (Best Before or Best Before End): This is the date signifying the end of the period under any stated storage condition during which the product will remain fully marketable and retain any specific qualities for which claims were made. Beyond the date, the food might still be perfectly satisfactory.

It also assists shop owners with the stock rotation of products on the shelf. In other words, to apply the FIFO (first-in, first-out) principle. These foodstuffs do not need to be removed from the shelves and can be sold for human consumption.

• Sell by or display until: This date is the last day of offer for sale to the consumer, after which there is still a reasonable storage period at home. This food must be removed from shelves and not sold for human consumption.

• Use By (best consumed before, recommended last consumption date, expiry date: This date signifies the end of the estimated period under the stated storage conditions, after which the product probably will not have the quality attributes normally expected by consumers and after which date the food should not be regarded as marketable. These foods must be removed from the shelves and not sold for human consumption.

ALSO READ: Gauteng government imposes restrictions to curb food poisoning

These foodstuffs are exempt from date markings:
• Alcoholic beverages described in the Liquor Product Act, 1989 (Act 60 of 1989);
• Chewing gum;
• Confectionary products comprising flavoured and/or coloured sugars;
• Fresh untreated and unpeeled fruit and vegetables;
• Processed meats like biltong and dried sausages that have not been prepacked;
• Ready-to-eat flour confectionery, provided the date of manufacture is indicated on the label or in the direct vicinity where the product is displayed;
• Sugars;
• Unprocessed, unpacked fish, meat and poultry which have not been pre-packed;
• Vinegar.

ALSO READ: GDE suspends food sales in schools due to cases of food poisoning

Altering or removing any date on the package for sale to the consumer is a criminal offence. Foodstuffs with tampered dates must not be for sale for human consumption and should be reported to the city’s environmental health division.

The public is also advised not to buy foodstuffs with signs of spoilage, such as mould, bad smells, discolouration, rot and bulging or leaking cans, even if sold at a discount.

Community members are warned not to play the role of an EHP by inspecting and seizing foodstuff from shops. This is impersonating an EHP, which is punishable by law.

Residents can lodge complaints about the sale of unsound or unsatisfactory food at the Environmental Health offices in Kempton Park on 011 999 6461.