The Chairperson of the South African National Consumer Union (SANCU), Jennifer Tselentis has called on local municipalities to implement regular inspections of food items in shops in different areas.
This after the Gauteng Health Department advised parents and caregivers to be highly vigilant, following an increase in food poisoning cases among children.
Since February this year, over 200 food poisoning cases have been reported with 10 fatalities.
Tselentis says better controls are required to curb food poisoning incidents.
A number of years ago, I ran shopping centers in Sandton. At the time, their health regulator and health department were terribly particular about restaurants. They would check on restaurants at least every three months. In my center, we had restaurants that were warned they would be closed if they did not comply with the regulations. The council had that power, and it still has that power. So, we need to micromanage this situation because this is about the lives of our children and the lives of our elderly.
