Cape Town: City commemorated World Food Safety Day following the theme – ‘Science In Action’. The Microbiology Laboratory of the City of Cape Town tests thousands of samples annually to ensure that the food Capetonians eat, is safe.
The Food Microbiological Laboratory and Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) of the city are frontline defenders against foodborne illnesses. The lab allows City of Cape Town to have an extensive sampling programme of food sold across the metropole.
Reportedly, the tests were conducted generally on ready to eat products, dairy products and even sushi and baked goods – the laboratory of the City of Cape Town also conducts testing of samples in cases of foodborne illnesses.
The Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) collect samples from a range of food handling, production and processing environments, from manufacturers to retailers and takeaways, premises like ECDs and old age homes and even informal traders and spaza shops.
Furthermore, the testing is essential for identifying unhygienic conditions, poor food handling practices, and possible contamination to prevent potential outbreaks. Considering a period of more than ten months since July 2024, the laboratory received 4,853 samples that were subjected to 17,759 analyses. The sample results yielded an overall compliance rate of 84.55%.
Also, from July 2022 to April 2025, a steady increase was recorded in foodborne illness in the City of Cape Town.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that as Covid-19 restrictions eased, a return to normal food handling, dining and social behaviors was recorded.
This may have led to increased exposure to foodborne pathogens and a rebound in reported cases. Increase in notifications, especially in 2024, may also reflect better detection, reporting and surveillance systems as public health operations normalised post-pandemic, contributing to improved surveillance and reporting.
Councillor Francine Higham said that as the under-reporting of foodborne illness in South Africa is known to be extensive, the actual incidence is likely to be far higher, which reinforces the need for regular testing of foodstuffs in the public domain.
The Food Microbiological Laboratory provides the scientific evidence necessary to uphold food safety standards, support public health policies, and enable safe food trade and consumption.
The EHPs translate laboratory findings into practical food safety measures, ranging from education and awareness to corrective actions in cases of continued non-compliance.
City of Cape Town strives to foster a culture of food safety, by empowering communities to make informed decisions that protect their health.