The City of Cape Town is urging residents to verify food safety claims before sharing them online to help protect public health.
The City of Cape Town has appealed to residents to exercise caution before sharing food safety allegations on social media, warning that unverified claims can undermine investigations and create unnecessary panic.
City Health says it has received a growing number of complaints in recent weeks relating to alleged contamination of food products purchased from informal economy businesses. Reports have ranged from claims of tablets being found in chips and biscuits to allegations of paraffin being present in cooldrinks.
Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) investigate food safety complaints, work with businesses to reduce risks and take legal action where necessary to protect consumers.
The City says community members play a critical role in identifying potential food safety concerns and helping authorities respond to genuine threats.
“Communities must be mindful of what circulates on social media and question the legitimacy of information shared. Not all posts are accurate – please verify before sharing,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
According to the City, responsible reporting allows health officials to focus resources on genuine risks, prevent foodborne illnesses and take action against unsafe food premises.
Officials have warned that false or deliberately fabricated complaints can divert investigators from critical cases, waste municipal resources and cause unnecessary reputational and financial damage to businesses.
The City has encouraged residents who suspect a food safety incident to seek medical attention where necessary, report the matter to City Health, open a case with the South African Police Service and provide as much supporting information as possible.
Useful details include the name and location of the business, product information, purchase dates, packaging, photographs, batch numbers and any symptoms experienced.
“Our Environmental Health Practitioners will investigate all complaints received, but investigations may take time. Verifiable information enables EHPs to prioritise investigations and respond more quickly to genuine risks,” added Higham.
Residents with food safety concerns can contact their local Environmental Health Office, call the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089, or log a service request through the City’s online platforms and mobile application.
