Limpopo Education Department lifts school food sale ban
The ban followed incidents where children were hospitalised or died from suspected food poisoning.
POLOKWANE – The Department of Education has lifted its temporary suspension of food sales at public schools, initially put in place to prevent the sale of potentially harmful snacks.
The ban followed incidents where children were hospitalised or died from suspected food poisoning.
Read more: Lim Edu Department says no to food vendors outside or near schools
Schools were given until Monday to comply with the Limpopo executive council’s new food safety guidelines before resuming vendor sales on school premises.
Under the directive, led by the Premier, Dr Phopi Ramathuba, schools and vendors must adhere to rigorous health, safety, and nutritional standards.
The new guidelines include:
1. Vendor registration and contract with School Governing Bodies (SGB): Vendors must establish a formal service level agreement (SLA) with the SGB, outlining specific roles and responsibilities and ensuring food safety standards are met.
2. Health and safety certification: Vendors are required to hold a valid certificate of acceptability (COA) from the Department of Health, guaranteeing compliance with hygiene and food handling standards.
3. Nutritional standards compliance: Vendors must adhere to nutritional guidelines promoting healthy food options, such as fresh fruit and low-sugar beverages, and avoid processed, high-fat, and sugary items.
4. Documentation of food sources: Vendors must maintain documentation of their product sources, including receipts and supplier information, allowing authorities to trace products if safety issues arise.
5. Ban on unsafe snacks: A ban is imposed on snacks from brands identified as unsafe or lacking expiry dates, ensuring that learners are protected from harmful products.
To enforce these standards, the SGB is tasked with monitoring vendor compliance, sanctioning or terminating agreements with non-compliant vendors, and maintaining an approved vendor database. Regular assessments will help ensure that all vendors meet safety requirements.
Provincial Government is committed to making schools safer for learners, with the SGB playing a key role in upholding these new food safety standards.
