Food poisoning incidents treated as national security threat

The Department of Health (DoH) has rebuffed claims that government is neglecting the issue of children dying from suspected food poisoning.

According to the department, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) is currently treating the recent spate of deaths as a national security threat. 

“These increasing incidents in black communities have led to an unfortunate and unsubstantiated perception that authorities are turning a blind eye to this crisis, and seem not to care about what’s happening to citizens. 

"Contrary to these beliefs and perceptions, this is what various authorities have been engaged in,” a statement from the DoH read. 
Those affected have concluded that these sudden deaths, especially among school children, were because of food poisoning emanating from foodstuff, particularly snacks, sold by foreign-owned spaza shops.

The Health Department said NATJOINTS, which is the national structure responsible for coordinating the security of the State, is treating these incidents as a potential threat to the security of the country and its citizens. 

“NATJOINTS [recently] met to analyse this situation and after careful analysis, recommended that the Department of Health should coordinate all these investigations involving various institutions and bodies because in the final analysis, whatever is happening eventually leads to ill-health or even death.”

Meanwhile, the department said the South African Police Service (SAPS) detectives have been working around the clock to try unravel this “mystery”, especially where children have died, as is the case in Naledi, Soweto.

In addition, the Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metros have deployed their Environmental Inspectors to investigate the cause of these suspected food poisoning incidents.

The Environmental Directorate of the DoH has also sent its inspectors to check compliance with health regulations.
“The Department of Agriculture has also sent in their officials to check if the problem might not be emanating their produce or from lack of compliance with some of their production regulations,” the  DoH said, adding that the National Consumer Commission  has also deployed senior officials to investigate the possibility of a breach of consumer protection regulations.

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has decided to rope- in the National Institute of Communicable Diseases to assist. ¥  –SAnews.gov.za