General food safety

Food manufacturers add dates to their packaging to ensure you purchase a safe, quality food product. It is important to know the difference between food date markings.

You will commonly find three different date descriptions on food packaging:

• ‘Best before (BB)’: generally applies to food that does not require refrigeration (canned goods, rice, pasta, cereal, biscuits etc.)
• ‘Sell by (SB) or Purchase date (PD)’: this is the last date that the food can be sold, but will still be safe for a reasonable period after
• ‘Use by (UB)’: this is the most critical date, and generally applies to meat, dairy or any other product that requires refrigeration. Products that are past their use-by date do not have their safety guaranteed and it is not advisable to eat them.

Food label tips

• Before buying food products, always check the dates on the packaging.
• Follow the recommended storage and product use instructions on the label, e.g. Store in a cool, dry place; refrigerate after opening; once opened, use within three days etc.
• Except for fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, meat, unpackaged fish and ready-to-eat foodstuffs, the South African Labelling Regulations require that all food products are labelled in English, and where possible, a second official language.
• Check the packaging before you buy food products. Do not purchase canned food products that are bulging, rusted, dented or damaged.
• Where applicable, food should be packed, wrapped or sealed to protect the contents.
• Use your senses (sight, smell, touch) to help determine and ensure food products are safe to use and eat.

Food allergies

Common food allergies include peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, eggs, crustaceans, molluscs, fish and soya beans. The law requires that food manufacturers declare these common allergens on their product labels so that consumers can make an informed decision when they purchase the products.

Staying healthy

There are steps you can take at home, in the workplace and in your neighbourhood to help prevent the spread of disease. Find out more about Common environmental health risks and read our Tips for staying healthy in your environment.

Food safety in the home

Food poisoning can be very serious. Learn how to notice, prevent and seek treatment for food-borne illnesses.

Visit our Food safety in the home page for more information.

Regulations for food businesses

In order to operate your food business lawfully, you must have a licence and comply with certain regulations.

The City Health Department works together with businesses that produce, prepare and/or serve food to ensure hygiene and safety regulations are met and the public is not exposed to contaminated, unsafe or incorrectly labelled foodstuffs.

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) visit business premises to conduct environmental health inspections at least twice a year, and will visit more regularly if they discover non-compliance.

If you would like to ensure that you have met all compliance requirements, you can request an environmental health inspection.

You may want to

• Apply for a Certificate of Acceptability
• Apply for an informal trading permit
• Apply for a business licence
• Apply to keep animals
• Apply to slaughter an animal

Report food safety concerns

Report food safety concerns to the City Health Department:

Online

Submit a 'Food safety' service request to City Health

Technical Operations Centre

Telephone:
0860 103 089

Alternatively, you can contact:

• your nearest Environmental Health Office
• a City clinic or healthcare facility

Document downloads

• 1. Environmental Health: Food Safety FAQs

     26/11/2024, FAQs - 406.2 KB