On Friday, April 20, the Makhado Municipality held an award ceremony for the cleanest businesses in their municipal area with regard to, amongst others, the handling of food.

The ceremony took place at the show hall in Louis Trichardt and government notice R918 of July 30, 1991, (information regarding the new food premises regulations) was read by Mrs Sylvia du Plessis from the local Department of Health and Welfare.

According to this notice, all premises where food is handled, prepared, packed, processed, produced, manufactured, stored, exhibited or served are subject to prior health approval and certification by a registered professional environmental health officer. The notice also states that any person in charge of food premises must submit an application to the relevant authority to obtain a certificate of acceptability in respect of a particular premises and food-handling method.

The competency certificate applied for is not transferable from one person to another or from one premises to another and may be suspended by an environmental health officer on the grounds of a prevailing health hazard threat. A competency certificate may also limit the kind of food and specific handling activities such as only packaging or storage of food, but not the preparation thereof. Owners of food premises and their managers are legally obliged to see to it that their food handlers are properly trained and educated in hygienic food practices and techniques. The only exception is the handling of food in a private residence for the use by members of those household and non-paying guests as well as certain raw, processed agricultural products.

The most important part of the notice is that these regulations are applicable to all other food-related undertakings including fast food carts, vending machines, food vendors, spaza shops, liquor stores, caterers, food promotions, pubs as well as transport operations relevant to perishable foods or handling by welfare organisations or feeding schemes.

The businesses that were awarded first prizes for cleanest business in the different categories were Shoprite (supermarkets), Luonde Lodge (accommodation establishments), Something Fishy (restaurants), Sasko Bakery (bakeries), Rondebosch Abattoir (abattoir) and Die Vleismark Butchery (butcheries).