ASC Food Safety Consultants
Leading with Science. Ensuring Food Safety.
Mthokozisi Nkosi, Food Safety Specialist and Lead Auditor 
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 …
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 packhouses in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga ramp up …
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 …
FSSC 22000 · Certification Guide · International A practical, internationally-applicable roadmap from initial gap analysis to a passed certification audit, written for food businesses pursuing GFSI-recognised certification under FSSC 22000 (May 2026). Updated for the new ISO 22002-x:2025 prerequisite-programme series, ISO 22002-100:2025 umbrella standard, GFSI 2024 alignment and Global ACI …
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. …
PRESS RELEASE PECB signs a partnership agreement with ASC Food Safety Consultants June 20, 2019 , PECB is privileged to announce that it has signed a new partnership agreement with ASC Food Safety Consultants, to distribute PECB training courses in South Africa. PECB upon this agreement with ASC Food Safety …
Food safety is a topic that we all think about from time to time. Whether it’s while we are doing our grocery shopping, picking out the best fruit and vegetables we can find, or whether it’s after an unpleasant experience while recovering from food poisoning. However, thinking about food safety …
ISO 9001:2015 sets the requirements for a quality management system, and the seven quality management principles behind it are set out in ISO 9000:2015. A sixth edition of ISO 9001 was scheduled for 16 September 2026, and the seven principles are not expected to move with it. For which edition …
Food safety, as well as the health and safety of your employees, are of the utmost importance in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. In South Africa, it is the employee’s right to work in a safe and healthy environment. Should a company not comply with health and safety standards, …
The recent spell of load-shedding in South Africa disrupts the economy intensely. It shuts down factories, switches off servers, prevents mining operations, causes massive traffic disruptions and costs billions in potential revenue. Its effects on the Agricultural Sector are equally significant. An inability to address the load-shedding problem over the …
Food Safety incidents can sometimes have a devastating impact on all stakeholders involved. The world’s population grows daily and the increasing demand for food creates both new opportunities and challenges to Food Safety. Consumers buy food products and assume they are of high quality and safe to eat. They have …
Food Safety Education Updated: May 2026 16 min read Mthokozisi Nkosi · Lead Auditor · SAATCA R638 Lead Implementer Complete South African Guide, 2026 Many South African food business owners use the terms “food safety” and “food quality” interchangeably. They are not the same thing. One determines whether your food …
Nearly everyone gets food poisoning at least once in their lifetime. Here are 20 handy tips to avoid and prevent food poisoning. These tips refer to households, but can also be used in any food-handling, processing and packaging enterprise. You can find the germs that cause food poisoning all around …
Preventing pests in food facilities is critical to ensuring the safety and quality of food products. Pests can easily contaminate food with bacteria and other pathogens, leading to foodborne illnesses and other health hazards. In addition to posing a health risk, pests can also cause significant damage to food packaging, …
What is Listeria? Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a bacterium that can cause a serious infection in humans called Listeriosis. Listeria monocytogenes is commonly found in soil and water and can contaminate food, particularly raw or undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy products, and certain fruits and vegetables. The worst listeriosis outbreak …
