A municipal advisory focuses on repackaging and the activities covered by a Certificate of Acceptability.
Garden Route District Municipality is urging food traders to check that the way they handle products is covered by their Certificate of Acceptability, following a 7 October warning about repackaging and dividing food for sale.
The municipality acknowledges that smaller portions can help households with limited budgets. It nevertheless warns that handling food outside appropriate controls creates contamination risks.
Its advice to spaza shops includes buying smaller, originally sealed packs instead of repacking staples, and avoiding the cutting of perishable products under certificates that cover selling only. The municipality says any additional handling authorisation must be reflected on the certificate.
Check the activity, not only the document
The warning should not be interpreted as proof that every form of repackaging is prohibited in every licensed food operation. The scope of authorised handling and the conditions at the premises matter.
The City of Cape Town’s separate guidance explains that businesses manufacturing, storing, distributing, preparing, transporting or selling food for public consumption need to apply for a Certificate of Acceptability. Its assessment includes premises, food-safety practices, waste control and hygiene.
Cape Town’s application process is not the Garden Route’s process. Garden Route traders seeking clarity should approach their own environmental health service; the district lists info@gardenroute.gov.za as a general contact.
The advisory does not identify a particular business as the cause of an outbreak.