Food poisoning spike: ‘We won’t point at a cause until we are dead sure’ - Health Minister

John Maytham speaks with Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health.

Listen below.

In recent weeks there has been a wave a food poisoning cases leading to several deaths.

The food poisoning appears to have come from snacks sold at spaza shops.

ALSO READ:

• Schools MUST vet snack vendors! - Gauteng Department of Education
• Food poisoning spike: ‘Govt has let the people down’ - NCC investigator

Various stakeholders, including SAPS and the National Consumer Commission, have launched investigations into this.

80 inspectors from the Health Department are searching for a chemical agent which may have caused these incidents.

“We looked very carefully at the symptoms and realised it was not a biological agent.”

- Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health

Motsoaledi says they have an idea of what they are looking for but are waiting for laboratory confirmation before they say for sure.

“It will be irresponsible to point to something without laboratory confirmation.”

- Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health

“When we come out and say what it was, we must be dead sure we know what we are talking about.”

- Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.