Food safety tips for your child
Protect your child's health by ensuring you communicate these safety measures to them when it comes to food.
South Africa is currently facing a crisis when it comes to food safety in schools.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane has classified foodborne illnesses as a national disaster. She said this during a media briefing in Pretoria on November 21.
The announcement comes after school children in different areas around the country lost their lives due to foodborne illnesses.
So far, 'almost 900 foodborne disease incidents have been recorded, and 22 children have died across South Africa since September,' reports Food Safety News.
Children in South Africa are prone to food poisoning for various reasons:
- They might eat food where proper food safety measures were not taken in the preparation stage.
- They buy food from Spaza shops, street vendors, etc., which might not be regulated.
President Cyril Ramaphosa released a statement on the government's website on November 15 urging the public to take extra precautions regarding food safety.
“As consumers and parents, if we buy food or send our children to buy food, it must only be from places that are licensed to sell foodstuffs and that observe food safety regulations. We must check that food is prepared in a clean and hygienic area," said the president.
He also warned against buying food without checking the food labels.
“We must make sure that foodstuffs being sold have clear branding and labels, and that they are not past their sell-by date. We must educate our children about food safety and teach them to check for this labelling themselves,” the President said.
Follow these food safety measures from the South African Meat Processors Association (SAMPA) to minimise the risk of your child suffering from food poisoning.
READ: Ramaphosa to address nation on spate of food poisonings
- Washing of hands, food preparation areas, and raw vegetables and fruit thoroughly.
- Separating raw and cooked ingredients.
- Ensuring that food utensils are clean.
- Not using knives used on raw meat to cut cooked or ready-to-eat products in order to avoid cross-contamination from raw to cooked food.
- Bacteria is killed off during the cooking process so follow cooking instructions.
- Keep food at safe temperatures and promptly refrigerate perishable foods at 5 degrees or below.
It is also important to cover prepared food in a container to avoid exposing it to flies that can carry germs.
ALSO READ: Soweto child dies from suspected food poisoning
President Ramaphosa has called on the public to report any fake and expired food products sold in communities to the National Consumer Commission on 012 065 1940.
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