WC health officials collecting samples of chips from spaza shops after 2 pupils hospitalised

CAPE TOWN - Health inspectors in the Western Cape visited the Driftsands community near Mfuleni to collect chips samples from local spaza shops.

This follows the hospitalisation of two pupils from the Mzamomtsha Primary School for suspected food poisoning.

The provincial Department of Education said the learners complained of stomach cramps.

Spokesperson Bronagh Hammond reassured parents that there have been no reports of food poisoning, involving the government's national feeding scheme programme.

"The Western Cape Education Department has always discouraged schools from allowing outside vendors to sell through school fences, for example, for safety reasons. But the reality is that there are vendors selling food items on many street corners within our communities. Environmental health practitioners and municipalities are responsible for ensuring their compliance."