The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education said the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) has been successfully rolled out to schools across the province.
FOOD safety experts, researchers and public health officials are urging a nationwide tightening of safeguards in South Africa’s school nutrition system, warning that gaps in hygiene, infrastructure and monitoring could be exposing learners to preventable health risks.
The call emerged from a national webinar convened by the Tiger Brands Foundation in partnership with the Department of Basic Education and the Food Evolution Research Centre, bringing together scientists, policymakers and food industry specialists to assess risks in school feeding environments.
Participants warned that while school meals remain a critical safety net for millions of children, weaknesses in food handling, storage systems, and kitchen infrastructure continue to create conditions where contamination can spread quickly — sometimes before anyone notices.
Experts cautioned that outbreaks linked to school meals may be underreported, making it difficult for authorities to intervene early. They said this creates a “silent system risk” where isolated incidents can escalate into broader community health concerns.
