Pretoria - The Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital has refuted claims that it is serving patients food past its sell-by date, as alleged in the media.
"The hospital employs five qualified food service managers and 15 dieticians, who ensure that food is being prepared correctly. Oil is not being re-used in the preparation of food for patients. Presently, oil and fat are disposed and collected together with leftover foods by famers for their pigs," said Gauteng Health Department spokesperson, Simon Zwane.
Zwane said the hospital had noticed regular leaks of false information to the media about its food service unit since the suspension of two food service managers for theft of meat worth R60 000.
"Disciplinary measures have been taken against these managers and criminal charges have been laid against them. There are other staff members from the food service unit, who are under investigation for the theft of fresh and cooked food," Zwane said.
He said the hospital would not be diverted from its efforts to rid the food service unit of people who displayed unethical conduct and to bring discipline within the facility.
"The hospital assures members of the public and its patients that it would never serve rotten food to any of its clients. These allegations are incorrect and without substance."
