SAPS
The Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, has appealed to parents to not purchase food from spaza shops.
The appeal comes after recent incidents of suspected food poisoning among learners in parts of the province.
"We strongly advise parents to refrain from allowing their children to purchase food from vendors or spaza shops. We cannot stress enough the importance of providing homemade lunches."
In the latest incident, learners aged between six and 13 from Zingcuka Primary School in Keiskammahoek were rushed to a hospital after falling ill.
According to a statement by the police, the learners were admitted to the SS Gida hospital after complaining of stomach cramps and vomiting.
"It is alleged that the children ate chips, biscuits, and juice from a local shop in Upper Zingcuka," the statement reads.
In a similar incident, two learners from Scenery Park, East London complained of the same symptoms.
In October, hundreds of children from across the province were admitted to various hospitals after falling ill.
Environmental Health officials were notified, and they confiscated sweets and other items from the vendors for testing.
On Thursday, police conducted inspections at spaza shops in Scenery Park, searching for and confiscating expired food products.
Mene says joint operations with the Environmental Health officials will be continuous as police aim to clamp down on local traders selling expired stock.
