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Primary Nutrition Programme: Use of Peanut Butter in Eastern Cape
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Health

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE SPEECH BY THE M.E.C. FOR HEALTH DR BM GOQWANA
ON PRIMARY NUTRITION PROGRAMME: USE OF PEANUT BUTTER IN EASTERN CAPE
 8 MAY 2001



Hon. Speaker
 Members of the Provincial Legislature

I feel it is a matter of public importance that the honourable members of this house and the public at large should be informed about 
status of Primary School Nutrition Programme where it has been reported that the Eastern Cape Department of Health has failed in its 
responsibility to ensure that the food that is given to primary school kids does not compromise their health status.

Hon. Speaker I feel obliged not only by the motion that has been raised but also because the Hon. Members of this House will be asked by 
their constituencies whether the kids have been really fed with peanut butter that contains a toxic substance called Aflotoxin. The issue 
at hand is whether the Eastern Cape Department of Health was aware of the presence of Aflotoxin and what steps were taken and also when was 
this detected.

As part of its responsibility the Department of Health conducts routine tests on the menu for the Primary School Nutrition Programme. In 
the tests that were done in February 2001 in one site it was discovered that the batch contained high level of Aflotoxin. Fearing that 
there could be another batch somewhere in the province a hasty decision was made to discontinue the use of peanut butter until this matter 
has been sorted out with the manufacturers. The media could not be informed because we feared the danger of being sued by these peanut 
butter companies having not completed the investigation because of conflicting evidence, nevertheless we had an obligation of stopping the 
supply.

The laboratory tests that were done on the 13th November 2000 gave us some conflicting results that it was difficult to make a decision. 
For example,

* The sample contains Aflotoxin: 128, 39 microgram per kilogram of total Aflotoxin of which 234.01 microgram per kilogram is Aflotoxin B1.
* The sample contains Aflotoxin: 271.63 microgram per kilogram of total Aflotoxin of which 165.05 microgram per kilogram is Aflotoxin B1
* The sample contains Aflotoxin: 263.84 microgram per kilogram of total Aflotoxin of which 134.27 microgram per kilogram is Aflotoxin B1.
* The sample contains Aflotoxin: 235.01 microgram per kilogram of total Aflotoxin of which 128.39 microgram per kilogram is Aflotoxin B1.

However, since schools were closed in November 2000, retests could not be done. When feeding resumed on the 24th January 2001 fresh tests 
were done. They confirmed the high levels of Aflotoxin hence the decision was made to discontinue its supply.

On 09 March a new menu was introduced. That menu has not been changed up to now. This decision displeased most of the stakeholders in the 
programme. The manufacturers wanted a legal settlement and the womens groups who have baking projects meant that they would no longer be 
able to bake. It is incorrect to say that the decision to discontinue the use of peanut butter was taken by the National Department of 
Health.

It is also irresponsible for anyone to say that the Eastern Cape Department of Health has acted very slowly on the matter. The NGOs that 
are contracted by the department to administer the programme were immediately informed that they should inform the womens groups that the 
supply of peanut butter has been stopped with immediate effect. The peanut butter, which was kept in warehouses around the province, was 
recalled.

I wish to also inform members of this house that other tests from two sites which were conducted on 09 March laboratory test report 
indicated that Aflotoxin was within the acceptable levels i.e. section 2 (a) of the Government National Regulations 313/1990 for example 
sample one indicated that the Aflotoxin level was 4.33 and sample two was 6.30 parts per billion. These tests were commissioned by 
manufacturers of the product. An accredited laboratory called SGS South Africa in Midrand conducted these tests.

Hon. Speaker I therefore take it up Hon. Members of this House that they will take it upon themselves and inform their constituencies that 
the Department of Health has not compromised the health status of the kids as has been reported in the media and how certain people have 
sensationalised it.

Thank you.

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