When food recalls happen, public safety comes first, but what happens to the small businesses relying on those ingredients? Samantha Andreas, founder of Shas Enterprise, highlights the hidden financial and operational strain product recalls place on South African SMEs.
Every product recall serves an important purpose: protecting consumers. As someone who runs a catering business, I fully support swift action whenever there is a potential food safety risk. Public health must always come first.
But every time a product is recalled, I find myself thinking about another group that rarely becomes part of the conversation: South Africa’s small food businesses.
Behind every bakery, catering company, food stall and home-based kitchen are entrepreneurs who rely on trusted ingredients to deliver the quality their customers expect. We don’t simply choose products because they are convenient; we build our businesses around brands that consistently produce the same taste, texture and quality. Over time, these products become part of our recipes, our reputation and ultimately our livelihoods.
Big impact on small businesses
When one of those trusted products is suddenly recalled, the consequences extend far beyond supermarket shelves.
For a small business, it can mean stopping production immediately to determine whether stock has been affected. It means sourcing replacement ingredients, testing recipes again, absorbing unexpected costs and reassuring customers that the food they receive remains safe. In some cases, it means delaying orders, turning away clients or losing income altogether.
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Unlike larger manufacturers, most SMEs do not have multiple supplier agreements or large procurement budgets. We often purchase ingredients from supermarkets because they are the most practical and affordable option for our businesses.
Switching to another brand is rarely as simple as replacing one product with another. Different ingredients behave differently, affecting taste, consistency and the quality that customers have come to know and trust.
Food businesses survive on reputation. It takes years to build customer confidence, but only one bad experience to lose it.
This is why product recalls should not only trigger conversations about consumer protection; they should also prompt discussions about protecting the small businesses that form part of South Africa’s food value chain.
Manufacturers, retailers, regulators and SMEs all have a shared responsibility to strengthen food safety and supply chain resilience. That starts with rigorous product testing before products reach shelves, transparent communication when problems arise and practical support that enables small businesses to respond quickly without carrying the financial burden alone.
SMEs need support
Imagine the difference if SMEs received real-time recall notifications specifically designed for businesses, clear guidance on affected products, assistance in sourcing suitable alternatives and direct engagement from manufacturers during major recalls. These may seem like small interventions, but they could prevent unnecessary losses for thousands of entrepreneurs across the country.
South Africa has worked hard to encourage entrepreneurship and support small businesses as drivers of economic growth. The catering industry alone creates employment, supports local suppliers and feeds communities every day. Yet when supply chain disruptions occur, these businesses are often expected to absorb the impact with little recognition of the challenges they face.
Supporting SMEs should not begin only after a crisis. It should be built into how we design, test, manufacture and communicate about the products that so many businesses depend on.
Food safety and business sustainability should never be viewed as competing priorities. They go hand in hand. Protecting consumers is essential, but protecting the entrepreneurs who serve them is equally important.
The next time a product is recalled, I hope we ask not only how consumers are being protected, but also how we can better support the thousands of small businesses whose livelihoods depend on the products they trust every day.
Because when trusted ingredients disappear from our shelves, it’s often small businesses that carry the greatest cost.
- The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Food For Mzansi.
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