GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has given the assurance that measures are in place to ensure that safe and healthy food products are provided to all consumers in the district.
It says in a statement on Wednesday 17 March, that regular inspections are conducted at all premises where food products are handled and/or stored.
The businesses visited, formal or informal, are not limited to hotels, restaurants, spaza shops, dairy farms, butcheries school feeding schemes and retail outlets.
Environmental health practitioners (EHPs) look out for correct labelling and handling and storage of food products, and see to it that minimum hygiene standards are maintained and that preventative measures are in place to avoid pest control issues.
Between January 2017 and December 2020, the municipality inspected 42 404 food premises and conducted health surveillance at 92 436 premises (including non-food premises).
EHPs ensure that labelling and advertising of foodstuffs are correct and labelled as per the regulation relating to the labelling and advertising of foodstuffs (R146) UNDER THE FOODSTUFFS COSMETICS AND DISINFACTS ACT. ACT 54 OF 1972.
It also collected 7 784 water samples and 2 036 food samples.
The EHP inspections are done in accordance with the regulations governing general hygiene requirements for food premises and the transport of food, Regulation 638 of 22 June 2018.
The public is urged to report any irregularities, complaints or non-compliance to their nearest GRDM municipal health office, or to lodge such issues via phone to 044 805 1550 or e-mail info@gardenroute.gov.za.
An example of how a vegetable should not look when sold. Ensuring that products that could be a potential risk for rodent/pest infestation get disposed of in an appropriate manner.
Offices where complaints may be reported are:
- Head Office, 54 York Street, George
- GRDM Community Services, Mission Street, George
- Knysna Sub-Office, 24A Queen Street, Knysna
- Mossel Bay Sub-Office, C/O Marlin & Samson street, Extention 23, Mossel Bay
- Plettenberg Bay Sub-Office, 4 Virginia Street, Plettenberg Bay
- Oudtshoorn Sub-Office, 15 Regent Street, Oudtshoorn
- Riversdale Sub-Office, 24 Mitchell Street, Riversdale
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