South African foodborne illness spike declared a national disaster

The recent rise in foodborne illness in South Africa has been declared a national disaster.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane said a team of health experts will be appointed shortly to a Ministerial Advisory Committee. This committee will develop medium- to long-term prevention measures to curb incidents of foodborne disease in the country.

There will also be a public education and awareness campaign on foodborne infections. Simelane urged citizens not to spread false and misleading information on foodborne illness, which has the “potential to cause public panic and confusion and incite violence.”

“Government communication platforms have begun sharing education about food preparation and safety; tips for the transportation, handling and safe storage of food; safety tips for food vendors, as well as information on which chemicals are illegal in South Africa, and also how dangerous chemicals must be stored and handled,” she said. 

Since September this year, at least 89src separate incidents of foodborne illness have been reported and 22 people, including children, have died in 2src24.

The private sector has also launched a campaign against illicit goods. The initiative, led by the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, covers education about food labeling and how to check if the food people are buying is fit for consumption.

Call for patience
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation earlier this month and set out several steps to tackle the problem, including inspections, ordering shops to register in the areas they operate, and making the death of any child aged 12 or younger a notifiable condition. 

Six children died in October after being poisoned in Naledi, Soweto. The deaths were attributed to a hazardous chemical used as a pesticide, called Terbufos. It is often sold to control rats.

Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi acknowledged the challenges in addressing deaths and infections linked to foodborne illnesses. He said tackling the issue was still in its early stages and requires patience. 

“We are still at the beginning. It is not envisaged that we would have been able to solve this problem in a short space of time. When 84 spaza shops — often shops operating out of homes — in Naledi were inspected, Terbufos was detected in three. Swabs from counters and food storage areas tested positive. However, without proof that food linked to a child’s death was purchased there, prosecution may not hold in court.”

There have been calls to shut down spaza shops until the issue is resolved but Motsoaledi said the problem extends beyond these establishments.

Investigations into the source of contamination include looking at five manufacturers of Terbufos, which is intended only for agricultural use, to see how it got into communities. The Department of Agriculture is conducting inspections at these firms to assess their controls.

“It is the department’s view that the Terbufos found in Gauteng does not emanate from one of the five South African producers but comes instead from across South Africa’s borders,” said Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.

Checking schools
The Department of Basic Education is trying to prevent the access of industrial and agricultural pesticides in schools.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube emphasized the department’s role in safeguarding learners, particularly as many of the recent fatalities have involved children of school age.

“We have done a lot of inspection in terms of the school nutrition program to figure out whether the program has been compromised. Our findings indicate that the majority of these deaths are not linked to the school nutrition program,” she said.

The nutrition program feeds 9.7 million pupils daily. The Minister highlighted the danger posed by children bringing snacks into schools, which are often shared among learners. 

“These pesticides, which are strictly for industrial and agricultural use, have no place on school premises, including those storing food for the school nutrition program,” she said.

The department is implementing stricter guidelines to protect food in schools from contamination including ensuring food handlers and distributors adhere to strict hygiene protocols and issuing guidance to provinces and schools on food storage and handling.

Inspections of food handling facilities, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers are ongoing. This includes spaza shops and general dealers. Checks involve environmental health practitioners, the South African Police Service, and the National Consumer Council. The initial phase of ins