South Africa: Prolonged Power Outages Raise Serious Concerns about Food Safety

South Africa is experiencing significant scheduled power outages, known as loadshedding, to share the limited available energy supply and protect the integrity of the power grid. In 2022 power outages were implemented more than 200 times. Although South African regulations and standards make general provisions for maintaining a cold chain, there are currently no national guidelines to specifically address the challenges of maintaining the cold chain during the energy crisis. Restaurants, food retailers, and consumers are adopting a myriad of techniques to cope with the regular blackouts. However, many businesses and individuals lack the appropriate equipment or knowledge to prevent significant pathogenic growth that can lead to foodborne illnesses.