​Andisiwe Ciya
 
Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances can lead to serious health issues and fatalities.
In an effort to address this, the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) on Friday, 23 May 2025 held a webinar to address challenges in food and chemical safety, and promote best practices and enhance compliance.
The webinar which is a build-up towards World Food Safety Day (WFSD) observed annually on  07 June 2025 allowed for the sharing of innovative initiatives and encouraged participants to adhere to safety standards and protect public health and the environment.
Food safety refers to the handling, preparation and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illnesses. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances causes approximately 600 million cases of foodborne diseases annually, leading to 420 000 deaths worldwide. Children under five-years-old are especially vulnerable. 
The Gauteng province has seen an alarming rate of foodborne illnesses across all five districts, resulting in 742 reported incidents and 30 tragic deaths, mainly among children. A significant number of these cases have been linked to food contamination in both schools and communities, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness, prevention and response strategies. 
To address this crisis, the GDoH's Environmental Health Practitioners, in collaboration with other stakeholders, launched a year-long food safety blitz from January to December 2024. Through this initiative, a total of 11 928 inspections were conducted at formal premises and 4 301 at informal premises to ensure compliance with food safety regulations. 
In addition, a comprehensive system for monitoring and improving food safety has been established where all five districts submit regular reports for assessment. Stakeholders also hold monthly and weekly meetings to discuss challenges, mitigate strategies and monitor progress in food and chemical safety. This proactive approach facilitates the identification of issues and implementation of effective solutions to ensure a safer environment. 
The GDoH's Chief Operating Officer , Dr Mkhulu Selepe said it is important that a collective effort is undertaken to ensure food safety, calling on communities, food vendors, and all stakeholders alike to take the responsibility to prioritise safe food practices.
"We must work together to create a culture that protects our communities, and most importantly our children from foodborne illnesses. This means adhering to hygiene standards, properly training food vendors and informal traders and educating them about the importance of being vigilant about how we store and handle our food," said Dr Selepe. 
The majority of food-borne illnesses and deaths that have occurred in Gauteng are as a result of improper chemical usage, mainly pesticides and insecticides. 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. I therefore want to take this opportunity to urge communities and residents to remain vigilant and educate ourselves about the dangers of improper chemical use and storage more especially for household usage," added Dr Selepe.
The webinar was attended by various stakeholders including those from the WHO, University of Johannesburg, Department of Agriculture, Gauteng Department of Economic Development, National Health Laboratory Service and the Spaza Shop Association. The webinar aligns with this year's WFSD theme, "Food Safety: Science in Action, which highlights the vital role of scientific knowledge in improving food safety practices and protecting public health.