GRDM EHPs Spearhead Food Safety Training for Informal Sector in Garden Route

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has taken affirmative steps to foster economic growth and ensure public health by providing necessary training to informal food traders in Dysselsdorp, Uniondale, and Haarlem. This initiative, led by the Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs), underscores the crucial role of food safety in the significant informal food services sector. Not only does this sector contribute to job creation and poverty alleviation, but it also has the capability to expand the regional economic base.

Highlighting the necessity of strict hygiene in food handling, these educational sessions are part of GRDM's strategy to increase compliance with Regulation 638 under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Act 54 of 1972). This regulation mandates that anyone selling food to the public must have a Certificate of Acceptability (COA). The recent training sessions in Dysselsdorp, conducted at the Thusong Service Centre, and in the Uniondale and Haarlem Spaza shops are a testament to the GRDM's commitment to actionable change.

The training presents an in-depth understanding of safe food handling procedures, including transportation, storage, preparation, and selling of food items sourced from approved locations. It's anchored on the World Health Organization’s Five Keys to Safer Food training package, which comprises key aspects such as keeping clean, separating raw and cooked, cooking thoroughly, keeping food at safe temperatures, and using safe water and raw materials.

In the aftermath of these training sessions, informal food traders are now better equipped to adhere to food safety legislations and comprehend their centrality in preventing foodborne illnesses. The EHPs have effectively communicated the significance of their roles and responsibilities to the informal food traders, reinforcing the public health imperative.

As GRDM strives to augment the informal food sector's contribution to the local economy, it continues to emphasize the importance of rigorous health and hygiene education. For anyone seeking further information or wishing to report unhygienic practices by food handlers, GRDM's offices within the Garden Route remain accessible and ready to assist.