Beware 'food terrorists'
2003-07-02 23:07
Ronel Bester
Cape Town - Consumers should be on the lookout for signs that someone had tampered with containers of tinned food, because "food terrorists" are very clever at camouflaging their handiwork, food technologists said on Tuesday.
This followed after tins of poisoned canned food were found on the shelves of a supermarket chain.
Dr Jessy van Wyk, food technologist at Peninsula Technikon, suggests consumers should take note of potential problems with the product or the wrapping before they buy anything. "If there's, for example, a dent in the tin, it could perhaps not be sealed properly and micro organisms could occur. Other danger signs may be that the seal of a product has been broken or if a tin has expanded.
Dr Aubrey Parsons, former president of South Africa's Food Technologists Association, says consumers may sometimes not even be able to see the danger signs. Tinned products could have very small rust marks and air could penetrate the container, which could lead to contamination inside the tin.
"It's worrying, though, that someone can alter the contents and it won't be tasted, seen or smelt."
"If someone for example should inject a substance into a tinned product and seal the tin again, it could take quite a while before the product showed signs of contamination. If you ever doubt the contents of a tin, rather throw it away or return it to the supplier. Do not taste anything if you are unsure."
Van Wyk and Parsons say the first symptoms that occur when one has food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, an upset stomach, headache and a high fever.
If these symptoms occur, the person should get medical attention as soon as possible. They say it's a good idea to take a sample of the suspicious food along for testing, or to inform medical personnel what had been eaten.
However, South Africans can buy food with confidence and the local food industry compares favourably with the best in the world, they say.
Van Wyk says most food producers have very strict control measures to ensure healthy and safe foodstuffs. Imported goods are also screened very carefully.
Parsons says it's unnecessary for consumers to become panic-stricken. "We have a food industry of which we can be very proud. International food technologists visiting our country regularly tell me how impressed they are with the quality and presentation."
- Die Burger