Measures to curb food borne illnesses at schools put in place

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The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has issued a circular on incidents of food poisoning, following the President’s address, concerning the deaths of children due to food borne illnesses.

According to the department, compliance requirements must be adhered to by all vendors, tuck shops and traders to regulate food sales on school premises.

This, it said, is to ensure that food is free from harmful substances, and is properly handled and stored to prevent contamination, spoilage, or the risk of causing illness.

Outlining measures put in place, Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane revealed that to ensure the safety and health of learners in schools, specific compliance requirements have been introduced to regulate food sales on school premises.

“All tuck shops, traders, and vendors must comply with legal requirements, by-laws, and food management regulations in order to operate on school premises. Unregistered sellers must register with the relevant authorities within 21 days, effective from Friday, 15 November 2024.

“Vendors operating on school premises are required to obtain a valid Certificate of Acceptability (CoA), as per the Food Stuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act and the General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises, Transport of Food, and Related Matters (Regulations No. 638 of 22 June 2018).

Food vendors on school premises to obtain a certificate

“Districts and schools must ensure that all food vendors within the school premises are in possession of a verified CoA and [CoAs] must be verified and can be confirmed by an Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) at your respective municipal office,” he explained.

The MEC stressed that tuck shops, vendors and traders may proceed to operate on school premises only if they comply with these requirements, as per the regulations, or upon after completing necessary verification and compliance.

He further reminded School Governing Bodies (SGBs) and School Management Teams (SMTs) of their responsibility to ensure food vendors comply with all guidelines and regulations, including verifying that food items are sourced from reputable suppliers and does not contain harmful substances.

Chiloane added; “Districts and schools are also required to implement specific measures and this includes submitting daily reports on food-related incidents using a standardised template.

“As well as sharing food safety tips and awareness materials to prevent foodborne illnesses, and following the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Guidelines.

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“Schools are also instructed to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for managing suspected food poisoning cases to ensure swift and effective responses.

He urged schools to enforce all guidelines and regulations strictly and emphasised that any instances of non-compliance should be reported promptly to the relevant district office or the consumer goods council.