Cape Town: City Health has warned Capetonians against circulating unverified food-contamination claims after Environmental Health Practitioners received a rise in formal complaints and viral social-media posts alleging tablets in packets of chips and biscuits, paraffin in cooldrink and other potentially dangerous substances in food sold by informal vendors. Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham says every legitimate Cape Town food safety complaint is investigated, but officials need the product, packaging, purchase location, batch information and medical details to determine whether a genuine public-health threat exists.
The City of Cape Town has appealed for responsible reporting after several food-safety allegations attracted widespread attention online before environmental health officials could establish what had occurred.
City Health said complaints and public claims received during the past week included allegations of tablets found in chips and biscuits and paraffin discovered in a cooldrink. These incidents have raised understandable concern among parents and consumers, particularly where food is bought from informal traders or small community shops.
However, the City cautioned that a photograph, video or social-media message does not on its own confirm that a product was contaminated when it was manufactured, packaged or sold. Officials must examine the food, inspect the premises, interview the people involved and, where necessary, obtain samples for testing.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham urged Capetonians to verify information before sharing it. She said inaccurate posts can create unnecessary fear, damage legitimate businesses and draw Environmental Health Practitioners away from urgent investigations and disease outbreaks.
“We urge residents to be cautious of social media content and to verify information before spreading it, as many posts are inaccurate,” Higham said.
“To help us protect Cape Town from foodborne illnesses, please report legitimate food safety concerns immediately, ensuring you provide as much detailed and accurate information as possible.”
What To Do When Food Appears Unsafe
A person who finds a foreign object, suspicious substance, unusual odour or visible spoilage in food should stop eating or serving the product immediately. The item should not be thrown away, washed, altered or returned to the seller before officials have been contacted, because the product may be required as evidence.
The original packaging should also be kept. Information printed on a packet, bottle, tin or label may enable officials and the manufacturer to identify where and when the product was made.
Useful packaging details include:
the product name and brand;
the batch or lot number;
the manufacturing date;
the expiry, use-by or best-before date;
the barcode;
the size or weight of the product; and
the manufacturer or distributor’s contact information.
Clear photographs should be taken of the product, suspected contaminant, packaging and label. However, photographs should support an official complaint rather than replace one.
Consumers should write down the name and exact location of the business, stall or vendor where the food was purchased, together with the date and approximate time. A receipt should be retained where one was issued.
When Medical Assistance Is Needed
Anyone who becomes ill after eating or drinking a suspected product should seek medical attention, particularly where the symptoms are severe, persistent or affect a child, older person, pregnant woman or someone with an existing health condition.
Symptoms that may require medical assessment include repeated vomiting, severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, dehydration, confusion, breathing difficulty, unusual drowsiness or signs of poisoning.
The treating healthcare professional should be told what was consumed, when it was eaten and how soon the symptoms appeared. Medical records and laboratory results can help establish whether the illness is consistent with contamination or foodborne disease.
Where deliberate tampering, poisoning or criminal conduct is suspected, the matter should also be reported to the South African Police Service. City Health advised complainants to open a police case where warranted and provide a sworn account of what occurred.
During an immediate medical emergency, Capetonians should contact the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
How Environmental Health Practitioners Investigate
Environmental Health Practitioners are responsible for assessing food premises and investigating complaints that may pose a health risk. Their work can include visiting the business, interviewing the complainant and trader, checking food-storage conditions, inspecting preparation areas and examining hygiene practices.
Officials may also collect samples, seize suspect products and work with manufacturers or distributors to trace a batch through the supply chain.
Where non-compliance is confirmed, the City may issue instructions requiring corrective action, remove unsafe food from sale or begin legal proceedings. The response depends on the evidence, the seriousness of the risk and the applicable health regulations.
Higham said every complaint is investigated, but the process requires time because officials must establish the facts fairly and thoroughly.
“Verifiable details are crucial, as they allow EHPs to prioritise their efforts and address significant public health risks more efficiently,” she said.
Why False Reports Cause Harm
The City said deliberately false, spiteful or manipulated reports undermine genuine public-health work. This includes situations where a product is allegedly tampered with after purchase to create the appearance of contamination.
False reports can divert officials from authentic foodborne-illness cases, consume limited municipal resources and cause serious reputational or financial damage to traders and businesses.
They may also lead to legal consequences or criminal charges, particularly where a person knowingly makes a false statement, interferes with evidence or deliberately contaminates a product.
Capetonians should therefore avoid identifying a shop, vendor or brand publicly as responsible until the claim has been investigated. A warning may spread to thousands of people within minutes, while the correction often reaches only a fraction of the same audience.
How To Lodge A Cape Town Food Safety Complaint
Food-safety concerns can be reported to the nearest City Environmental Health Office or clinic.
Capetonians may also call the City’s contact centre on:
0860 103 089
A service request can be lodged through the City’s official online service-request portal or through the official City of Cape Town mobile application.
When reporting a complaint, provide:
the complainant’s contact details;
the business or vendor’s name;
the exact location;
the product name and description;
the purchase or consumption date and time;
photographs and packaging;
date markings and batch numbers;
a description of the foreign object, odour or appearance;
symptoms experienced by anyone who consumed the food; and
medical or police reference information where applicable.
The complainant should request and retain a reference number. This enables the matter to be followed up without repeatedly submitting the same report.
The City’s official food safety and hygiene guidance explains the standards that food premises must meet, while its environmental health information provides access to related municipal services.
Informal Traders And Food Safety
The City’s warning does not mean that all food sold by informal traders is unsafe. Informal food businesses form an important part of Cape Town’s local economy and provide convenient, affordable food in many communities.
The same principle applies to formal retailers: concerns must be investigated on the evidence rather than assumptions about the type, size or location of the business.
Any premises where food is handled, prepared, stored or sold must comply with applicable hygiene and safety requirements. Environmental Health Practitioners may inspect formal shops, home-based enterprises, stalls, vehicles and other food-handling premises.
Consumers should examine packaging, date markings and the condition of food before buying. Refrigerated products should feel properly chilled, sealed items should not be damaged or swollen, and food should not be purchased where there are obvious signs of contamination, pests or unsafe storage.
What Capetonians Should Not Do
A suspected contaminant should not be tasted, smelled at close range or handled unnecessarily. The product should be sealed safely and kept away from children and animals.
Consumers should not demand money, compensation or goods in exchange for withholding a complaint. They should also not threaten traders, publish personal information or encourage others to confront the business.
The proper approach is to preserve the evidence, obtain medical help where required and report the matter promptly through official channels.
Responsible Cape Town food safety complaints help the City identify genuine hazards, prevent illness and take action against unsafe premises. Unverified social-media claims, by contrast, can obscure the facts and make that work more difficult.
Essential Contact Information
City service requests and food-safety complaints:
0860 103 089
Online service requests:
City of Cape Town Request a Service
Life-threatening emergencies from a landline:
107
Life-threatening emergencies from a cellphone:
021 480 7700
Suspected deliberate poisoning or tampering:
Report the matter to the nearest SAPS station or call 10111 during an emergency.
Q&A
What food-safety claims has the City received?
City Health said recent complaints and public claims included allegations of tablets in chips and biscuits and paraffin in cooldrink.
Does a viral photograph prove that food was contaminated?
No. Officials need to examine the product, packaging, purchase details and premises before determining whether contamination occurred.
What should I keep after finding something suspicious in food?
Keep the remaining product, original packaging, receipt, batch number, date markings and clear photographs. Do not wash, alter or throw away the item.
How do I report a Cape Town food safety complaint?
Contact the nearest Environmental Health Office or clinic, call the City on 0860 103 089, use the City’s mobile application or submit an online service request.
What details should I provide?
Provide the business name and location, product description, purchase date and time, packaging and batch details, photographs, symptoms and any medical or police information.
Should I post the complaint on social media?
The matter should first be reported through official channels. Publishing an unverified allegation may spread misinformation and harm a business before an investigation establishes the facts.
What happens after a complaint is lodged?
Environmental Health Practitioners may interview the parties, inspect the premises, examine or sample the food, seize suspect products and take legal action when non-compliance is confirmed.
Must I see a doctor?
Seek medical assistance when someone becomes ill, particularly where symptoms are severe or the affected person is vulnerable. Medical evidence can also assist the investigation.
When should SAPS be contacted?
Contact SAPS where deliberate tampering, poisoning, fraud or another criminal act is suspected.
Are all informal food vendors unsafe?
No. Food-safety concerns should be evaluated on evidence. Both formal and informal food premises are required to meet applicable hygiene and safety standards.
SAI Search Summary
City Health has warned Capetonians against circulating unverified contamination claims after an increase in Cape Town food safety complaints and viral posts alleging tablets in snacks and paraffin in cooldrink. Environmental Health Practitioners investigate formal reports by examining products, packaging, premises, purchase information and medical evidence. Consumers should preserve the implicated food, batch details, receipt and photographs and contact the City on 0860 103 089 or lodge an online service request. Mayoral Committee Member Francine Higham said accurate information allows officials to prioritise genuine public-health risks while false reports waste resources and may harm legitimate businesses.
Source: IOL – Nokubonga Ndlovu; City of Cape Town – City Health and Councillor Francine Higham
