Spike in foodborne illness prompts Gauteng crackdown on non-compliant establishments, says health MEC

The Gauteng provincial government has warned businesses and establishments that work with food to fully comply with food safety standards or face the full might of the law.

The province held a food safety webinar on Friday, in which an official at the Gauteng department of health delivered a keynote address on behalf of health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.

Different stakeholders, such as the Spaza Shop Owners Association, participated in the webinar.

“I must reiterate that compliance with food safety standards is mandatory for every person, business or establishment dealing with food.

“We have intensified efforts to conduct inspections in response to the rising food safety challenges in the province,” she said.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said that in 2024, the provincial government conducted over 389 000 inspections across both formal and informal food establishments in the province.

“This proactive approach led to 9 536 prohibition notices and 4 911 fines issued to those who were found to be non-compliant with the legislation.

“These efforts are crucial in ensuring compliance and protecting public health,” she said.

Rise in foodborne illnesses in Gauteng

Nkomo-Ralehoko said Gauteng had seen a disturbing rise in foodborne illnesses in 2024 alone.

“We recorded over 700 cases, which sadly claimed the lives of 30 children. This is a serious concern. It highlights the crucial role that each one of us has to play to promote awareness and protect our families and communities.”

She also indicated that some food-related illnesses are due to the mishandling of dangerous chemicals such as pesticides.

“Equally critical is the issue of chemical safety. The unsafe use of chemicals along with unlabelled substances poses risks to public health.

“These hazardous chemicals can contaminate food items and lead to severe health complications, including poisoning,” she said.

The province has come up with a multidisciplinary approach to fight foodborne illnesses.

“Our provincial multi-disciplinary response teams, comprising officials from the Gauteng department of health, Department of Economic Development, Department of Agriculture, municipalities, community leaders and NGOs, are working diligently to reduce the risk of foodborne incidents and fatalities,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said.

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‘No country is immune to foodborne disease’

She said statistics by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicated that approximately 600 million cases of foodborne diseases are reported annually, leading to 420 000 deaths worldwide.

“This underscores that no country, community or individual is immune to the risks of foodborne diseases, as food is a fundamental human necessity we consume every day,” she said.

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