Category: News

Foreign shop owners have been accused of selling fake food in South Africa. The food is also way past its sell-by date. This has resulted in South Africans targeting the shop owners in xenophobic attacks. However, there is not much data about what is referred to as fake food. This only means that the issue is mainly politically charged and not dominated by evidence.

Is Fake Food a Problem in South Africa?

Food counterfeiting is present in both the formal and informal sectors of the food industry, and it is increasing daily. If South Africans are thinking about problems of health in regards to fake food, then we should note listeriosis. This was the largest foodborne disease crisis S.A. has had. The disease was traced back to food produced by a large company, considered non-counterfeit.

Is The Sale Of Expired Food A Problem In South Africa?

In S.A., all perishable foods have an expiration date. Foods cannot be sold or donated after reaching that date. Non-perishable foods also have best before dates. These dates are usually for quality, and not safe as per consumer assumptions. Foods can be legally sold after these dates. These foods are most preferred because they are sold at discounted prices.
Danger only comes when these dates are tampered with and illegally sold to consumers. Different kinds of food counterfeiting have different potential health outcomes. Some expired foods out there can actually cause serious illness and sometimes even death. However, expiration dates on most food products are generally conservative to protect companies from liability. Most foods are still safe after the expiration date.
Non-perishable foods that are outside of their best before dates have far less risk. Counterfeits pose a threat to companies that make legitimate food, from a business point of view.

What can be done?

The solution to these problems isn’t confiscating the foods from foreign shopkeeper, criminalising them or closing their shops. The first step is gathering better data concerning the extent of the sale of counterfeit foods. This includes assessing the relative health risks and recognising the diversity of kinds of counterfeiting.
We should also understand how counterfeit goods appear on the market and also address the root causes. S.A. may need to commit greater transparency at border control. Environmental health officers in municipalities also need further training on food testing.
Lastly, S.A. must address food insecurity and poverty. These two are the main drivers of high demand for cheap foods.
 

Coffee is one of the most loved beverages in the world. And, as a result, blogs all over the internet and coffee enthusiasts swear that it helps them stay awake and boost their energy. But we would rather you try these coffee alternatives as too much of the caffeinated drink has serious side effects. Therefore, coffee lovers are advised to drink no more than 400mg, around 4 cups of coffee a day.
Some of the side effects that come with too much of the caffeinated drink include nausea, anxiety, dizziness, insomnia, increased heart rate, sweating, among others. You could try one or all the following healthy coffee alternatives. These will do a very good job of boosting your concentration.

Coffee Alternatives

1. Masala Chai

Masala Chai is a very popular Indian beverage. It contains enough caffeine to make you feel energized. The beverage is infused with Indian spices. These spices include cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and many others. This results in a rather strong taste. Masala chai contains anti-oxidants that cure colds and fevers. It is known to increase your body’s immunity as well.

 
2. Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is very delicious. Add to that, the beverage can also increase energy. This makes it the perfect coffee alternative. Hot chocolate is especially recommended for drinking in the morning to help kick-start your day. Chocolate is known to contain anandamide, which is a neurotransmitter. This helps maintain mental health and also trigger happiness. It also contains cacao, which is a source of magnesium that helps you to stay active.

3. Turmeric Tea

Another great coffee alternative is Turmeric Tea. And It is most loved because of its health benefits due to its active ingredient, curcumin. The beverage has a golden yellowish colour and very strong taste. It increases the body’s immunity, prevents cancer and Alzheimer’s. Tumeric tea relieves inflammation and arthritic symptoms, among others. If you suffer from heart disease and gallstones, you may want to include this drink on your beverage list.

4. Matcha Green Tea

Matcha tea is green tea that’s been processed into a powder. It’s rich in fiber, antioxidants and chlorophyll. It helps prevent heart disease, is beneficial to Type 2 diabetes patients and fights cancer.