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5 November 2024 Media Statement: Pills Found in Chips and other Food Packaging – Garden Route District Municipality’s response

Media Statement: Pills Found in Chips and other Food Packaging – Garden Route District Municipality response

For Immediate Release
5 November 2024

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), the South African Police Service (SAPS), local municipal law enforcement, and other stakeholders are aware of incidents in the Great-Brak and Friemersheim areas where foreign objects/pills have been found in packets of chips and other food packaging. An investigation is currently underway to determine the facts surrounding these incidents. In this regard, the GRDM is dedicated and responsible for ensuring that food sold to the public is safe for consumption.

GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, in response to reports of these serious incidents, said: “We can assure the public that we regard this matter with utmost seriousness and have immediately made all officials fully aware of this situation. The public’s safety in terms of health is a priority.”

SAPS informed the GRDM about the foreign pills found in packets of chips and other food packaging, which were earlier reported to the Great-Brak Police Station.

A pill found in one of many packets of chips and reported to SAPS (Source: Supplied, verified by Environmental Health Practitioners)

Blitz operations are conducted weekly, with another scheduled for tomorrow. During these sessions, various informal food vendors are visited. Stakeholders involved in these operations include the SAPS, local municipal law enforcement, and the Department of Home Affairs, among others.

Further information about the incident will be released at a later stage.

To report any incidents of suspected counterfeit or tampered foods, members of the public are urged to contact their nearest SAPS or reach out directly to the Garden Route District Municipality’s Environmental Health Services.

Johan Compion – Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control

Desmond Paulse – Manager: Municipal Health Klein Karoo

Rinay Cloete – Acting Chief: Municipal Health Mossel Bay

  • E-mail: rinay@gardenroute.gov.za
  • Tel: 044 693 0006 /Cell: 083 630 6108
  • C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay

Emmy Douglas – Chief: Municipal Health George (Outeniqua)

Jessica Erasmus – Acting Chief: Municipal Health George (Wilderness)

James McCarthy – Chief: Municipal Health Knysna (Lakes)

Gawie Vos – Chief: Municipal Health Bitou (Lakes)

Haemish Herwels – Chief: Municipal Health Hessequa (Langeberg)

ENDS