Food safety blitz at Knysna spaza shops

KNYSNA NEWS - Public concern over the selling of “fake foods” has compelled the national department of health to issue an urgent directive to municipalities to investigate allegations of food products sold, especially those not labelled in accordance with appropriate legislation.

Consequently, a joint food safety blitz was undertaken by the Garden Route District Municipality: Knysna municipal health section on 13 September, in collaboration with the Knysna police and municipal law enforcement, among others.

The blitz was undertaken at informal (“spaza") in the different Greater Knysna areas.

The operation was facilitated by four environmental health practitioners of the Knysna office and a total of 12 premises were inspected.

Three fines were issued to noncompliant premises and formal notices will be served on all premises that were visited, to address the noncompliance issues that were identified.

During the debriefing session afterwards, various issues and challenges were discussed, which will be prioritised during the next operations within the Greater Knysna area.

An environmental health practitioner issues a fine to a shop owner who is not complying with legislation governing general hygiene requirements for food premises, the transport of food and related matters. Photos: Supplied