Joburg Market food quality meets safety

Food safety is an increasingly important issue in the fresh produce industry with markets all over the world intensifying their efforts to guarantee the consumer that "quality meets safety" where food is concerned.

Joburg Market CEO, Kgosientso Ramokgopa says, “As the world leading fresh produce market, the Joburg Market is in the forefront with regard to ensuring that food safety becomes an integral part of overall service in the local fresh produce industry.

According to Ramokgopa, the Joburg Market has implemented a Food Safety Programme to address issues pertaining to the trading environment (maintenance and upgrade of trading halls), cleaning and sanitation, pest control, waste handling and removal, traceability, product quality control, pesticide residue testing, training on food safety and quality.

Ramokgopa said: “Our Food Safety Programme is supported by state-of-the-art in-house laboratory to test the level of pesticide residues on produce sold through our trading halls. Having the lab on site help produce results quickly and improve general response. The tests are done to ensure that the produce that end up on the dinner table is safe for consumption and that the buyer can buy with a peace of mind. Just one of the reasons you should buy at Joburg Market.”

For the consumer to easily recognize and distinguish produce that has been through the comprehensive inspection and testing procedures, Joburg Market has created a new seal called “Joburg Market Quality Mark”.

Ramokgopa said: “With the seal, buyers can buy with peace of mind knowing that the produce has gone through rigorous inspection and testing and is fit for consumption. Traders who buy produce with the quality seal can also demonstrate to their customers that they are insistent on the best standards for food safety and consumer protection.”

To make sure buyers take an interest in food quality issues, Joburg Market’s Food Quality Inspectors will be walking the floors from August 2010 when the quality seal will make its official appearance to distribute information material to customers.

The  “Joburg Market Quality Mark” will be pasted on consignment of fresh produce deemed to comply with the following ten (10) determined compliance criteria by Quality Assurance Inspectors after inspection and testing:

1. Traceability – through marking requirements as per the Agricultural Product Standards (APS) Act and regulations , Act 119 of 1990.
2. Products that are packed in clean and suitable packaging/containers that protect the contents and do not pose the risk of contamination.
3. Packed products that complies with the mass requirements, where applicable, as per the APS & Trade Metrology Acts or containers are filled to acceptable capacity.
4. Products that are fresh, firm and free from serious injuries.
5. Products that are free from decay.
6. Products that are free from insect infestation and foreign matter.
7. Products that comply with the grading requirements as per the APS Act and regulations.
8. Products that are found to be fairly uniform in quality , colour and sizing in all containers in the inspection samples.
9. Products that comply with the maturity standards as per the APS Act and regulations where applicable. E.g. avocadoes comply with the maximum moisture tolerances for maturity.
10. That the pesticide residue levels tested complies with the prescribed maximum residue limits (MRLs) as per Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants (FCD) Act, Act 54 of 1972.