The application of good manufacturing practices as a quality approach to food safety in a food manufacturing establishment in the Western Cape South Africa

Abstract

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is a segment of quality assurance which guarantees that food products produced are uniform and controlled to the appropriate quality standards for their required use and as expected by the marketing authority. A survey was carried out to assess the awareness and implementation level of GMP guidelines amongst manufacturers in the Western Cape, South Africa. Based on a literature review on GMP in the food manufacturing establishments a research problem was identified forming the crux of the research which reads as follows: “the lack of enforcement of approved standards within the food manufacturing establishments in the Western Cape Province, South Africa may result in the food product quality being questioned by consumers”. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness and implementation of GMP among food manufacturing establishments in the Western Cape. The literature was reviewed to discover what is currently known concerning GMP in the food manufacturing industries. Fresh food produce manufacturing establishments in the Western Cape Province South Africa were targeted for this study, with 52 responding to the questionnaires. Data was collected by means of self-administered structured questionnaires and individual face-to-face interviews with six of the establishments that participated in the questionnaires. Data for the questionnaires was analysed by means Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 19 software programme in order to generate descriptive statistical results and to determine potential areas for improvement in the establishments surveyed. Data for individual face-to-face interview was recorded by transcribing and analysed by inductive reasoning. In particular, Cronbach’s alpha was utilized to test the reliability of the key items of GMP.