Foreign traders in Knysna get educated on food hygiene

KNYSNA NEWS - Recent collaborative blitz operations to inspect the informal spaza shop sector, prompted environmental health officials (EHPs) of the Knysna municipal health services to assist citizens from foreign countries that are currently conducting business within Greater Knysna, with health and hygiene awareness.

Initially, the language barrier was a huge challenge, which inspired EHPs from the Knysna office to design and compile a health and hygiene awareness poster in the most general language – spoken Arabic dialect – for Muslim people from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and the like.

These posters will assist shop owners with the legal requirements when it comes to food, as prescribed by the Foodstuff, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act 54 of 1972.

The following focus areas were included on the posters:

Procuring foodstuff from certified retailers.
Selling of compromised foodstuff.
Temperature control labelling.
Expired foodstuff.

This project will be rolled out to the other local authorities within the Garden Route district.

On 16 November, during a ceremony held in Hornlee at the Knysna Musallah Mosque, the posters were handed over to designated representatives of the Muslim business community of Knysna by local EHPs James McCarthy and Linden Herwells.

Foreign business owners of the Knysna community with some of the health and hygiene awareness posters received from the municipality environmental health practitioners. Photos: Supplied

During the ceremony, the local Muslim business sector and the imam of the Knysna Musallah expressed their gratitude for this gesture and committed themselves to provide safe food to the Knysna community. – Supplied

James McCarthy in an education and training drive for members of the Muslim business sector in Knysna.