Food safety is an issue that has been of great concern in recent months in communities across South Africa.

Massmart’s Jumbo and Cash & Carry Brands operate an intensive food safety programme that ensures that food for sale in these stores is always safe for consumption.

Peter Mamabolo, Vice President of Masscash (which includes Massmart’s Jumbo and Cash & Carry Stores), highlights that the group’s focus on product safety extends well beyond its stores. “Product safety is a key priority of ours throughout our supply chain, and three key areas of focus for us are in our supplier network, our in-store processes, and our pest control measures,” he said.

Firstly, the retailer only sources products from reputable suppliers who are required to meet certain criteria relating to the facilities they manufacture in and for the quality and safety of the products permitted for sale in Masscash stores.

Secondly, upon receiving products that have been packaged and sealed by their suppliers, Masscash stores maintain a thorough food safety program, which includes daily stock rotations to ensure that there is no expired stock on the shelf and independent audits by a third-party service provider on a quarterly basis.  

For stores with service departments such as butcheries, bakeries, and delis, environmental microbiological testing is conducted on food prepared in these areas, as well as on contact surfaces, hand swabs, and water, to verify the safety of the food available for sale.

Thirdly, to further ensure the safety of products, Masscash stores are only serviced by registered pest control service providers who use registered pest control operators and approved pesticides, which are applied in a way that prevents contamination.

“We aim to be a force for good in the communities in which we operate, and customers can have complete confidence and trust in the products they are purchasing in our stores at affordable prices,” Mamabolo concluded.

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