A framework has been produced to help African countries implement the WHO’s strategy on food safety.
The World Health Organization (WHO) African region is estimated to have the highest burden of foodborne diseases per population. Based on figures published in 2015, more than 91 million people fall ill due to
Continue Reading Africa sets goals to meet WHO’s food safety strategy targets
More than 20 people are believed to have died in one South African province after consuming food from local shops.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the majority of deaths have been children aged between six and nine.
“The first uniform approach across the province was to adopt a mechanism of
Continue Reading South Africa investigates local shops as death toll passes 20
Officials in South Africa have urged action after the deaths of five children linked to eating food from local shops.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety called on law enforcement to clamp down on the sale of expired food in spaza shops. These sites are also called
Continue Reading Anger in South Africa after child deaths linked to food
Guidelines to support African governments in improving food safety across the informal sector are to be developed.
The African Union (AU) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) are designing a framework for a continent-wide approach to engaging with the informal food sector.
Guidance seeks to reflect the realities of African
Continue Reading African countries to get help with food safety in informal sector
The problem of unsafe food has yet to get the global attention and resources it deserves, according to an expert cited in a new film.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Feed The Future program, Evidence and Action Towards Safe Nutritious Food (EatSafe), documentary focuses on traditional markets, known
Continue Reading Film highlights push for food safety investment in Africa
Officials in South Africa have issued a warning after several cases of children falling seriously ill after eating different types of snacks.
Authorities appealed for calm following reports claiming children had died after consuming items bought from spaza shops. These sites are also called tuck shops and are informal grocery stores.
Continue Reading Foodborne sources suspected in fatal South African cases
Researchers have proposed a radical shift in how food safety is looked at in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
They said the top-down focus of efforts to build food safety capacity in LMICs has largely failed when it comes to the informal sector. Instead, interventions, both regulatory and facilitative, should
Continue Reading New approach needed to improve food safety in informal markets
The World Health Organization (WHO) has put forward five actions to mitigate the risks to public health in traditional food markets.
The steps are to keep clean; avoid contamination; keep food products safe; reduce contact with animals; and stay safe and protect yourself. They are based on the five keys
Continue Reading WHO seeks to adopt safe food messages for traditional markets
Speakers at a roundtable discussion stressed the need to build capacity, engage policymakers, and use technology to improve food safety in Africa.
The session, organized by the Africa Union Commission (AUC), featured Simplice Nouala head of the agriculture and food security division at AUC; Ade Freeman, regional program leader for
Continue Reading African experts discuss food safety on the continent
A plan to transform the food environment in India that includes improving food safety and hygiene has been named as a winner of an international award.
Eat Right India was one of 10 programs recognized by the Rockefeller Foundation for plans to tackle food-related problems by 2050. The initiative was
Continue Reading Indian food system vision recognized with award
