Leading with Science. Ensuring Food Safety.
Mthokozisi Nkosi, Food Safety Specialist and Lead Auditor 
GlobalG.A.P. is a farm certification scheme that promotes good agricultural practices and the production of primary products in a safe manner while taking into account worker welfare and health. What is GlobalG.A.P.? Global Good Agricultural Practice (GlobalG.A.P.) is an internationally recognised certification standard that promotes Good Agricultural Practices under a …
Quality is providing services or products that are not inferior, meets and exceeds the required standards, and fits the purpose. Quality has two terms; Quality Control and Quality Assurance. Although the two terms seem similar, they mean different things that we shall explain below. What is Quality Assurance? Quality Assurance …
In November 2020, FSSC 22000 published a new FSSC 22000 version to align with the latest GFSI requirements. The new FSSC 22000 V5.1 will come into effect on 1 April 2021, and all sites must be audited against Version 5.1 by 31 March 2022. There are only a few changes …
The main difference between ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 is that ISO 22000 is not GFSI recognised and FSSC 22000 is GFSI recognised. What does this mean and is it important? Other differences lie in the composition of ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 standards. Let’s have a look at each and …
Primary health care is the first contact that communities make with the country’s national health system. It is the first constituent of the health care system. Primary healthcare is meant to facilitate health care provision as close as possible to where communities are. The main focus areas of primary healthcare …
The WHO defines primary healthcare as a concept that considers individuals’ holistic health care needs and their communities. The major components of primary health care are an adequate supply of water, sanitation and health education. These components have never been more critical than now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Good hand …
South Africa is one of the countries where the Public Health System structure was transformed into a district health system. The aim was to deliver health services to people following primary healthcare principles and guidelines. Primary health care is the first contact that communities make with their national health system. …
On 3 November 2020, the Foundation FSSC 22000 has published Version 5.1 of its FSSC 22000 certification Scheme. The main reasons for an updated version are compliance with the latest benchmarking requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and strengthened requirements for Certification Body (CB) performance as part of …
ASC Consultants has introduced a new online food safety courses to make it convenient for persons working in food handling facilities to acquire the necessary skills. The first available course is the Regulation R638 Food Safety Course for the persons in charge of food premises. The learner can take this …
ASC Consultants has developed readymade FSSC 22000 V6 audited documentation toolkits to help organisations develop a comprehensive Food Safety Management System in line with the FSSC 22000 Version 6 requirements. FSSC 22000 stands for Food Safety System Certification and is a GFSI recognised scheme. The Foundation for Food Safety System Certification …
COVID-19 has introduced a new style of living where each person must take responsibility for their own health and hygiene. These days you hardly find someone who has not heard of the word “sanitising”, “disinfection” or “sterilisation”. Hand sanitisers are flying off the shelves and at some point, some retailers …
Our family loves traditional gatherings celebrated around overloaded lunch tables with every imaginable dish prepared and shared to suit our individual tastes, including my niece’s latest vegan obsession running in tandem to her allergy to peanuts. A recent food poisoning catastrophe which nearly ended in a family fatality brought my …
Navigating South Africa’s 2026 Citrus Season: Compliance, Export Safety, and Science-Backed Consulting South Africa has solidified its position as the world’s second-largest citrus exporter, with the 2026 season seeing unprecedented demand from the EU and Asian markets. However, with this growth comes a tightening of international regulatory pressure. As citrus …
COVID-19 or Coronavirus is a virus that causes respiratory disease and can be fatal for people with pre-existing chronic conditions and weakened immune systems. You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions: Related Articles Check out our other related articles for more …
By Mthokozisi Nkosi, Food Safety Specialist & Lead Auditor Last Updated: 14 April 2026 In the 2026 South African food landscape, “Food Safety” is no longer a buzzword—it is a legal mandate. With the rigorous enforcement of Regulation R638 (Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises), the “Person in Charge” and every food …
By Mthokozisi Nkosi, Food Safety Specialist & SAATCA Lead Auditor Last Updated: 15 April 2026 In the competitive South African food landscape, FSSC 22000 Version 6 is the gold standard for safety and quality. Whether you are a citrus packhouse in the Eastern Cape or a food manufacturer in Gauteng, achieving this GFSI-recognized …
What is a food allergen and why is it important to take note of it? A food allergen can sometimes cause an allergic reaction in people. Allergic reactions can range from mild to fatal. There are 8 common food allergens (worldwide, including South Africa) which cause allergic reactions in some …
As a fundamental principle, all businesses everywhere, regardless of size or sector, are responsible for respecting human rights, as recognised by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Ethical audits such as SMETA/SEDEX, SIZA, GRASP, etc. are meant to ensure businesses can determine their level of risk …
Most managers in small to medium businesses are burdened with an additional workload over and above duties in their job descriptions. These managers do not have enough time dedicated to running the Quality Management Systems or Food Safety Management Systems effectively. Therefore, dedicated quality time to address problems relating to …
Food is a source of life, but it can also cause death due to foodborne diseases. In 2017-18 in South Africa, the listeriosis outbreak opened our eyes to the devastating effects of contaminated food when more than 200 people died from enjoying a presumably good slice of their favourite polony. …