Food quality and safety beyond what we see

Food and product testing are essential for safety, quality, and compliance in agriculture and food. Magda du Toit visited SciCorp Laboratories to learn more about its role in supporting the food value chain.

- MAGDA DU TOIT

As food systems become more complex, ensuring safety and authenticity demands a combination of strong regulatory enforcement, industry-led best practices, and cutting-edge scientific testing solutions.

Throughout the entire food value chain, an intricate web of laws, regulations, and food standards ensures the safety and quality of food products in South Africa. Producers, processors, distributors, and retailers in the food and agriculture industry constantly face endless challenges regarding purity, quality, safety, and meeting ever-changing export standards.

MORE THAN REGULATORY

At a media information session at SciCorp Laboratories in Pretoria, Gauteng, managing director Dr Tertia Erasmus said food safety was not only a regulatory requirement but also a fundamental aspect of consumer trust, economic sustainability, and international trade competitiveness.

She added that the implementation of regulations required advanced, reliable testing methodologies to verify compliance at all stages of the food value chain. Erasmus explained that SciCorp was a biotechnology laboratory that provided cutting-edge molecular and microbiological testing solutions for the food and agriculture sectors.

“Our mission is to provide rapid, accurate and innovative ‘farm to fork’ diagnostics that help our clients uphold standards.