Food Safety Consulting & Troubleshooting

Food Safety Consulting & Troubleshooting FAQs

• What does a food safety consultant do?

  Practical problem-solving, not just advice.

  A food safety consultant helps businesses identify, manage and resolve food safety risks. This includes designing and implementing Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), conducting gap assessments, investigating contamination incidents, preparing businesses for certification audits, and providing ongoing compliance support. At Didactics Africa, our consultants work across manufacturing, retail, catering, packaging and logistics to solve practical food safety challenges.

• How much does food safety consulting cost in South Africa?

  It depends on scope and what shapes the fee.

  Consulting fees depend on the scope and complexity of the engagement — a focused root cause analysis for a single contamination issue will cost considerably less than a full FSSC 22000 implementation project. We scope each engagement individually. Contact us for a conversation about your specific situation and we’ll give you a clear indication of what’s involved.

• Can you help us implement FSSC 22000 or ISO 22000?

  Yes, from gap assessment through to certification ready.

  Yes. We support food businesses through every stage of FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 implementation — from initial gap assessment against the standard to documentation development, internal auditing, and certification readiness. We work with food manufacturers, packaging suppliers and logistics businesses seeking GFSI-recognised certification in South Africa and across Africa.

• What is a food safety gap assessment?

  The starting point for any serious food safety improvement.

  A gap assessment compares your current food safety practices against the requirements of a target standard — such as FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, or BRCGS. It identifies what’s in place, what’s missing, and what needs to be improved before a certification audit. It’s typically the starting point for any certification or compliance project and can be conducted on-site or remotely.

• How do you investigate food contamination or a product recall?

  Root cause first, then a corrective action that actually holds.

  We assist with root cause analysis (RCA) to identify the source and cause of contamination — whether microbiological, chemical, physical or allergen-related. We help develop corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), update your HACCP plan and supporting documentation, and prepare the evidence required by certification bodies, retailers or regulatory authorities. If you’re dealing with an active incident, contact us directly.

• Do you offer food safety consulting for small businesses in South Africa?

  Yes, we work with businesses at every stage of their food safety journey.

  Yes. We work with businesses of all sizes, including SMEs and single-site operations that don’t have a dedicated food safety team. Whether you need help getting your first HACCP plan in place, understanding your compliance obligations, or preparing for a customer audit, we can provide support that’s appropriately scoped for your business.

• What food safety standards do you support?

  HACCP, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, PRP requirements and more.

  We provide consulting support for FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, ISO 22002, HACCP, Codex GMP, and GFSI-aligned programmes. We also assist with prerequisite programmes (PRPs), allergen management, food defence and food fraud vulnerability assessments (TACCP/VACCP).

• Where are you based and do you work across South Africa?

  Based in Cape Town, and yes, we work nationally.

  Didactics Africa is based in Cape Town (Westlake Business Park). We work with clients across South Africa and the broader African continent, with many engagements conducted remotely and on-site visits available where required.