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Food certification audits : a case study in the Western Cape
Author(s)
Valentine, Lucrecia Zinobia
Date Issued
2008
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
While there is a standard for quality and environmental auditors, there is no local
or international standard for food safety auditing, which means auditors from
different certification bodies can use their own discretion when auditing food
establishments. There is a requirement to investigate the quality of work
performed by South African food safety auditors. in order to establish whether
they do in fact add value when conducting registration and certification audits.
This is also an indication of the importance of improving and maintaining a high
standard of food safety in the food services industry.
The overall concept of food safety in South Africa IS clearly not defined.
understood by only a few consumers, and not widely accepted. Research has
shown that food retailers in South Africa in general do not believe food safety
auditors are competent. In the wake of the Sudan Red scare two years ago. a long
awaited food safety initiative was launched in February 2006. The scare
pertaining to a carcinogenic food dye. which found its way into spices on local
supermarket shelves, mobilized food industry role players to improve food safety
standards. Under the auspices of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa
(CGCSA), the body responsible for establishing best practices and
implementation standards, Food Safety South Africa (FSSA) will enable an
organization to determine the exact nature and extent of possible and actual
problems along the food supply chain.
The key objectives of this research study are to determine whether one food
certification standard is needed in South Africa and to assess the value added by
the food auditors to their clients. Social research will be conducted within the
ambit of the dissertation, with case study serving as research method. Both
quantitative and qualitative research paradigms will be used to gather data for the
research survey in support of the research question. forming the crux of the
dissertation which reads as follow: "How can food safety auditors increase value
added to the audit process in food environments in South Africa?"
or international standard for food safety auditing, which means auditors from
different certification bodies can use their own discretion when auditing food
establishments. There is a requirement to investigate the quality of work
performed by South African food safety auditors. in order to establish whether
they do in fact add value when conducting registration and certification audits.
This is also an indication of the importance of improving and maintaining a high
standard of food safety in the food services industry.
The overall concept of food safety in South Africa IS clearly not defined.
understood by only a few consumers, and not widely accepted. Research has
shown that food retailers in South Africa in general do not believe food safety
auditors are competent. In the wake of the Sudan Red scare two years ago. a long
awaited food safety initiative was launched in February 2006. The scare
pertaining to a carcinogenic food dye. which found its way into spices on local
supermarket shelves, mobilized food industry role players to improve food safety
standards. Under the auspices of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa
(CGCSA), the body responsible for establishing best practices and
implementation standards, Food Safety South Africa (FSSA) will enable an
organization to determine the exact nature and extent of possible and actual
problems along the food supply chain.
The key objectives of this research study are to determine whether one food
certification standard is needed in South Africa and to assess the value added by
the food auditors to their clients. Social research will be conducted within the
ambit of the dissertation, with case study serving as research method. Both
quantitative and qualitative research paradigms will be used to gather data for the
research survey in support of the research question. forming the crux of the
dissertation which reads as follow: "How can food safety auditors increase value
added to the audit process in food environments in South Africa?"
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008
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