Cape Town: City Health records lowest reported foodborne illness cases in three years. The 13 incidents reported so far in this financial year are the lowest in three financial years. It is an encouraging sign on World Food Safety Day, which is observed annually on June 07, 2026.
Environmental Health Practitioners of the Cape Town work daily to ensure food safety for all by inspecting food premises and investigating complaints of foodborne illnesses. They also conduct education and outreach activities annually to create awareness about food safety and hygiene.
As per the sources, City Health’s Food Microbiological Laboratory amplifies their efforts by analysing thousands of food samples. Between July 2025 and May 2026, nearly 5000 food samples were tested, with more than 18,000 analyses conducted, that resulted in a compliance rate of just over 88%.
Foodstuffs that most commonly failed for E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus included rice, chicken dishes, salads, sandwiches, sushi, ready‑to‑eat processed meats such as biltong and polony, as well as surface swabs including hands in Cape Town. These failures are primarily linked to poor food handling practices, temperature abuse and inadequate cooking, which are often compounded by inadequate handwashing and improper handling of food after cooking.
Sampling of products is done from retailers, restaurants, butcheries, fast food outlets, tuck shops and feeding schemes at schools and ECDs, hospitals and old age homes, caterers, canteens and accommodation establishments. During the same period, City Health has had notifications of 13 food-borne illness incidents.
In 2024-25, there was a spike in cases and recorded 72, driven by two suspected outbreaks. One in November 2024, where 15 children became symptomatic, although the cause was not clear. And second, in February 2025, where 19 persons became symptomatic after eating unwashed peaches. The number of notifications in 2023-24 was 29.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham stated that the Environmental Health Practitioners are on the frontline of food safety by routinely inspecting food premises, educating food handlers, investigating complaints and outbreaks, sampling foodstuffs and enforcing compliance with food safety requirements. Their monitoring and education help in preventing unsafe food handling practices before they lead to illness and the City commend their efforts.
Food safety is a highly legislated space, but the onus is on everyone to help in promoting it by adhering to basic practices, whether you run a business or are cooking for your household. The City has a comprehensive list of food safety tips and advice available on its website .
According to Cllr Higham, handling food properly reduces the risk of illness, and it also extends the life of the produce. Food wastage is a global concern, and so too are rising food costs. Make sure you read storage instructions and pay careful attention to how food is prepared and stored, particularly fresh produce like fruit and vegetables.