Food Lover's Market reopens in Soweto after salad-loving rat scare

31 January 2019 - 14:13 By Nonkululeko Njilo
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
A rat that was filmed nibbling on a salad at Food Lover's Market.
A rat that was filmed nibbling on a salad at Food Lover's Market.
Image: Screenshot from video

A Food Lover's Market store in which a rat was captured on video three weeks ago feasting on fresh food on display is back in business after being given permission to resume operations.

The store in Diepkloof reopened its doors to the public on Wednesday.

Environmental health practitioners had told the company it could resume operations after it was shut down three weeks ago due to substandard conditions, said Lesego Mathibela at the MMC for health and social development's office. 

Mathibela said health practitioners had visited the outlet to ensure that it had reached a state of compliance after a notice was issued to deep-cleanse and fumigate the premises.

Health MMC Mpho Phalatse said it was important that traders followed food safety regulations to avoid being shut down.   

After the incident, which caused outrage on social media, Phalatse said her department would continue to shut down stores that failed to comply with food safety regulations and placed the lives of residents at risk.  

Phalatse said she was pleased that the Food Lover's Market outlet had given its full co-operation during the process, adding that the store would be closely monitored.  

Mathibela said that waste management services in the city had also cleaned up illegal dumping next to the mall where the store was. 

"Though we note the illegal dumping problem next to the mall, this should never be used as an excuse for food outlets to neglect their responsibility of keeping their premises in a hygienic state.

"I’d like to recognise and commend all other food outlets in the mall who were found to be on the right side of the law by our environmental health practitioners.  Please continue to lead by example," said Phalatse.

Residents in the vicinity were urged to report illegal dumping and refrain from dumping themselves to keep the area clean.


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now