Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Magister Technologiae: Quality in the Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / The Quality Control laboratory in the South African Breweries (SAB) measures the quality of raw materials to final product to enable the plant to make process changes if required. The brewing laboratory also co-ordinates taste sessions, and maintains and calibrates equipment for the plant. They also have internal verification (Reference control) systems and validation (standards) systems in place to ensure accuracy of measurements. The Service Level Agreement (SLA) scores according to the researcher are low owing to staff cuts and ineffective time management.The aim of this research is to improve SLA scores and to investigate if using SLA scores is the best way to measure service quality in the Quality Control department of SAB. The researcher aims to use SERVQUAL as a measuring tool to measure service quality in conjunction with SLA‟s. Because the laboratory is a service department, it is expected by brewing internal customers that the laboratory provides the plant with quality data and equipment support in the virtual laboratories in the plant. Furthermore it is expected that the service provided will always be of a high standard, and that SLA scores will be of a high standard as well.The major issue with service quality in the SAB laboratory is the low level of SLA scores. The focus areas of SLA‟s currently are:  Quality Assurance (QA)/ Technical/ Production interaction.  Reference control.  Equipment support.  Routine analysis and ad hoc requests.  Trial support.  In process taste requirements.  Package product taste requirements (Routine, profile, trials and flavour stability). The low score of SLA‟S are mainly due to equipment support and reference control. The other factors also contribute to the low score; however the above mentioned two consistently return low scores. The results of service quality are not significantly improved through the use of SLA‟s calling for the requirement to improve service quality using the SERVQUAL instrument.

M.B.A. / The food processing in industry is extremely important for the health and the welfare of the South African nation by feeding and nourishing the citizens. The food processing industry is one of South Africa's largest. Many South Africans directly participate in this industry as investors, employees, or entrepreneurs. This industry also generates the SA nation much-needed foreign exchange via export activities. The long-term success of the South African food industry will contribute to the gross national product, employment opportunities, stability, and reduce health related costs. A literature review was conducted. The main purpose of this review was to give a background, and foundation to the research project. It gave an overview of the topic of food safety and quality. The main stakeholders involved with food quality and safety were identified. This review also outlined the importance of quality systems in regard to food born diseases. The consequences of food born diseases in both human and economic terms were also covered. Questionnaires were designed, and then distributed to relevant organisations, such as business organisations, consumer organisations, governmental organisations, industrial organisations, and international organisations. Respondents were asked to complete the questionnaires. These questionnaires contained both open and closed questions. The answers to the questions gave insight to facts and opinions into what. is happening in this industry. Data obtained from the questionnaires was summarised and analysed. One important finding was that South African business organisations could, when necessary fulfil the requirements of global quality standards. Also due to the fact that the SA food industry is now participating in the evolving and demanding global economy means that all South African stakeholders will have to become more dynamic in order to keep up with future trends and scenarios.

Thesis (MTech (Consumer Science)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010 / Globally, and in South Africa, consumers have become concerned about living healthier lifestyles as well as acquiring an understanding of health and using self-medication as disease preventative measures. This has resulted in an expanding consumer interest in functional foods and the non-nutrient bioactive ingredients in foods that support health. The aim of this study therefore was to determine: (i) the level of awareness, knowledge and understanding (i.e. acceptance) of functional foods and a number of bioactive food ingredients of health conscious consumers in two adjoining subcouncils of the City of Cape Town and (ii) the demographic, health and lifestyle characteristics and other socioenvironmental influences affecting their acceptance of bioactive ingredients in functional foods to describe the consumer market for functional foods and the bioactive food ingredients investigated. For the purpose of this study two groups of respondents representing the health conscious consumer were purposefully sampled. One hundred and thirty nine respondents representing the health conscious market, which includes gym subscribers and dietary supplement users, anonymously and voluntarily participated (67% response rate) from the two subcouncils, De Grendal and Blaauwberg, representing a higher economically active segment of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality.

Manufacturing industries are facing major challenges in terms of improving product quality and increasing throughput while sustaining production costs to acceptable levels. Product-oriented processes, both legacy and new, are poorly monitored and controlled on the basis of distributed loop controllers that are aiming to maintain critical process variables within acceptable bounds. Thus, poor quality product results when such processes are subjected to large disturbances - operational failures, environmental changes, and changes in loading conditions. In this research, product quality modeling and control based on a vision inspection methodology is proposed to improve product quality and increase productivity. The main contributions of this research are twofold. First, this research introduces a product quality modeling methodology that combines both physical-based modeling and data-driven modeling. The quality model is the link between information coming from the inspection of product features and the specification of process control strategies. It is essential to control and optimize the process. Physical-based modeling is used to model the product temperature profile, and data-driven modeling is used to train the mapping from the product temperature profile to each quality metric. The break down of the sub models increase the flexibility of model development and reduce the effort to change the model when the quality metrics change. The second contribution is the development of a novel approach to control product quality based on vision inspection, which is developed as part of a hybrid, hierarchical architecture. The high-level control module involves scheduling of multiple plant processes, diagnostics of the failure condition in the process, and the supervision of the whole process. The mid-level control module, which is the focus of the work presented here, takes advantage of baking product quality indicators and oven parameter measurements to optimize zone temperature and conveyor speed set points so that the best product quality is achieved even in the presence of disturbances. The low-level control module consists of basic control loops. Each of them controls parameters of each operation in the process separately. They are generally simple and easy to implement.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Food Science))--University of Pretoria, 1999. / Food Science / MSc / unrestricted

Thesis (M. Tech. Environmental health) -- Central University of technology, Free State, 2011 / In nature microorganisms do not exist alone, but in association with one another. These kinds of associations can also be found in food industries, where cells of the same or different species can attach to pipes (biofilm formation) and a variety of surfaces in food processing environments and in food product such as yoghurt which can contain both yeast and bacteria originating from the starter culture as well as fruit. To control food spoilage organisms and food-borne pathogens preventative measures such as good manufacturing processes, the use of sanitizers and preservatives as well as hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) are crucial in food industries. Sanitation of the working surface, floors, pipes, containers and equipment is a stepwise application of a detergent, acid or alkali rinse, a disinfectant treatment followed by final rinsing. If rinsing of the sanitizer is not done properly it may end up in the product in sub-lethal doses. In this study the influence of Liquid Hypochlorite (LH) and Liquid Iodophore (LI) sanitizers on organism growth and toxicity was evaluated. The organisms investigated included Escherichia coli 0113, Escherichia coli 026 and Zygosaccharomyces bailii Y-1535 in yeast malt broth, which was supplemented with LH and LI at sub-lethal concentrations 0.05% LH, 0.2% LH and 0.075% LI. Subsequently, bacterial and yeast growth responses as pure cultures and in combination (E. coli + Z. bailii) were measured as colony forming units and optical density values. Incorporation of the sanitizers in the growth media resulted in different levels of growth inhibition. Z. bailii proved more robust and the growth rate was not influence significantly by the addition of sanitizers or communal growth with either E. coli strains. The growth rate of both E. coli strains decreased where grown in combination with Z. bailii as well as in the presence of sanitizers, with the most influence exerted by LH. Changes in endotoxicity following the growth of the test samples (stressed cells) and the control (unstressed) were measured by the limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) and porcine IL-6 ELISA methods. Where E. coli strains were cultured together with Z. bailii the toxicity of tire mixture showed a decrease over time when measured with the limulus amoebocyte assay method. Interestingly the communal growth of the E. coli strains and Z bailii produced different toxicity profiles when the IL-6 porcine method was used, hi both cases, where E. coli strains were cultured together with Z. bailii the toxicity of the mixture showed an increase over tune when measured by this assay. Other than a similar toxicity profile for E. coli 0113 grown in pure culture, the comparison between results obtained using the LAL or porcine IL-6 methods yielded no correlation in determined toxicity. It was established that LH and LI sanitizers as well as communal growth had an influence in the toxicity of LPS/EPS and the method used to determine such toxicity should be carefully considered.

To be submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF TECHNOLOGIAE: In Quality In the Faculty of Engineering AT THE CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2012 / Over the last decades, due to the lack of safety concern and inadequate quality management in logistical process, it caused unsafe and poor quality of maize products. Thus, this study looks into the key factors that affect maize exports from South Africa in order to improve the logistical processes and reduce the risks involved in the process. The main risks associated with poor traceability and logistical chain management of maize export, as well as issues pertaining to non-conformance to the different food safety standards were explored. Data were collected a group of food business operators (FBO) (n1=127) and food business inspectors (n2=20) through a number of interviews and a self-administered questionnaire. Data were then analysed by using the SPSS-V19 programme to generate descriptive statistical results to determine the specific needs and gaps within the current system as well as providing recommendations on the specific food safety changes pertaining to the maize export industry. The results showed that there is a lack of understanding among role-players regarding FBO legislation. In the comparison of many large companies, there is only a few small role-players adhere to the legislation pertaining to food safety and traceability. This has impacted on the quality of maize products negatively. This strongly suggested that all role-players that handle maize for export must be registered for FBO codes with Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The study also recommended that the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) should inspect and confirm the legitimacy of the FBO codes that appears on the maize export documentation. Keywords: Quality, food safety, food business operator, maize export, logistical processes, and traceability.

Nos últimos anos a busca por hábitos alimentares mais saudáveis vem crescendo gradativamente e a opção por alimentos integrais participa efetivamente desta tendência. O trigo como fonte de fibras alimentares vem sendo utilizado na forma do farelo de consumo humano, farinha integral ou na composição de pães e massas integrais. Porém, até o momento, poucos alertas são levantados quanto aos contaminantes existentes nas porções externas do grão e se o processamento é capaz de reduzir estes contaminantes a níveis aceitáveis. Neste projeto de pesquisa foram investigadas características de perigos existentes na matéria-prima e/ou processamento, utilizando a sistemática mundialmente aplicada e conhecida como Análises de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (APPCC). O projeto foi desenvolvido em moinho de trigo onde as Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) e o Manejo Integrado de Pragas (MIP) já estavam implementados. A metodologia APPCC foi desenvolvida após revisão dos Programas de Pré-Requisitos, descrição detalhada do processo produtivo e análises exploratórias/confirmatórias em pontos estratégicos, seguindo para a aplicação dos sete Princípios teóricos do Sistema. Com os resultados das análises exploratórias constatou-se que as etapas do processamento retiraram grande parte dos contaminantes presentes no trigo in natura, originando uma farinha integral com parâmetros físicos, químicos e microbiológicos, de acordo com a legislação vigente. Com a Análise de Perigos e Pontos Crítico de Controle aplicado à produção de farinha de trigo integral, foi constatado que o processamento reduz os contaminantes presentes no trigo a níveis aceitáveis, desde que os três PCCs identificados nas etapas de peneiramento (Turbo-Peneira) e transporte (Filtro e Detector de Metais) sejam corretamente monitorados. Na aplicação da árvore decisória não foram constatados pontos críticos de controle (PCC) para o insumo Trigo. / In recent years the search for healthier eating habits is growing gradually and the choice of whole grain foods is included in this trend. Wheat as a source of dietary fiber has been used in the form of wheat bran, whole wheat flour or as part of the composition of whole wheat bread and pasta. However, so far, few alerts are raised regarding the contaminants in the external portions of the grain, and the possibility of the processing reduces these contaminants to acceptable levels. In this research project, hazard characteristics were investigated in the grain and/or processing, through the systematic applied worldwide and known as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The project was developed in a wheat mill where the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) were already implemented.The HACCP methodology was developed after review of Prerequisite Programs, detailed description of the production process and exploratory/confirmatory analysis at strategic points, then moving to the application of the seven theoretical System Principles. The results of exploratory analyzes found that processing steps removed most of the contaminants in wheat, yielding a whole wheat flour with safe physical, chemical and microbiological parameters, in accordance with current legislation. The Hazard Analysis and Control Point Critical system were applied to the production of whole wheat flour, it was found that the processing reduces contaminants in wheat at acceptable levels, provided that the three points of control present in sieving (Turbo Sieve) and transport (filter and Metal Detectors) are monitored properly. In the decision-tree approach was not found critical control points (CCP) for wheat storage.

Nos últimos anos a busca por hábitos alimentares mais saudáveis vem crescendo gradativamente e a opção por alimentos integrais participa efetivamente desta tendência. O trigo como fonte de fibras alimentares vem sendo utilizado na forma do farelo de consumo humano, farinha integral ou na composição de pães e massas integrais. Porém, até o momento, poucos alertas são levantados quanto aos contaminantes existentes nas porções externas do grão e se o processamento é capaz de reduzir estes contaminantes a níveis aceitáveis. Neste projeto de pesquisa foram investigadas características de perigos existentes na matéria-prima e/ou processamento, utilizando a sistemática mundialmente aplicada e conhecida como Análises de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (APPCC). O projeto foi desenvolvido em moinho de trigo onde as Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) e o Manejo Integrado de Pragas (MIP) já estavam implementados. A metodologia APPCC foi desenvolvida após revisão dos Programas de Pré-Requisitos, descrição detalhada do processo produtivo e análises exploratórias/confirmatórias em pontos estratégicos, seguindo para a aplicação dos sete Princípios teóricos do Sistema. Com os resultados das análises exploratórias constatou-se que as etapas do processamento retiraram grande parte dos contaminantes presentes no trigo in natura, originando uma farinha integral com parâmetros físicos, químicos e microbiológicos, de acordo com a legislação vigente. Com a Análise de Perigos e Pontos Crítico de Controle aplicado à produção de farinha de trigo integral, foi constatado que o processamento reduz os contaminantes presentes no trigo a níveis aceitáveis, desde que os três PCCs identificados nas etapas de peneiramento (Turbo-Peneira) e transporte (Filtro e Detector de Metais) sejam corretamente monitorados. Na aplicação da árvore decisória não foram constatados pontos críticos de controle (PCC) para o insumo Trigo. / In recent years the search for healthier eating habits is growing gradually and the choice of whole grain foods is included in this trend. Wheat as a source of dietary fiber has been used in the form of wheat bran, whole wheat flour or as part of the composition of whole wheat bread and pasta. However, so far, few alerts are raised regarding the contaminants in the external portions of the grain, and the possibility of the processing reduces these contaminants to acceptable levels. In this research project, hazard characteristics were investigated in the grain and/or processing, through the systematic applied worldwide and known as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The project was developed in a wheat mill where the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) were already implemented.The HACCP methodology was developed after review of Prerequisite Programs, detailed description of the production process and exploratory/confirmatory analysis at strategic points, then moving to the application of the seven theoretical System Principles. The results of exploratory analyzes found that processing steps removed most of the contaminants in wheat, yielding a whole wheat flour with safe physical, chemical and microbiological parameters, in accordance with current legislation. The Hazard Analysis and Control Point Critical system were applied to the production of whole wheat flour, it was found that the processing reduces contaminants in wheat at acceptable levels, provided that the three points of control present in sieving (Turbo Sieve) and transport (filter and Metal Detectors) are monitored properly. In the decision-tree approach was not found critical control points (CCP) for wheat storage.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Consumer Science: Food and Nutrition in the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2012 / The chronic diseases of lifestyle, tuberculosis and Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome have a high prevalence in South Africa. These diseases are characterised by oxidative stress and a chronic inflammatory state that contribute to both the development and the acceleration of these diseases. Research into the phytochemical plant food components suggest that these substances could possibly play a vital role in the prevention of such disease. Corn steep liquor (CSL) is a waste product with an exceptionally high polyphenol content and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). This led to the suggestion that it could be utilised in the development of food products with functional food characteristics. Stock cubes, due to the widespread use among consumers of different socio-economic backgrounds, were identified as vehicle for the delivery of the CSL with its phytochemical content. This lead to the development of a stock cube utilising CSL as a source of phytochemical polyphenolic antioxidants with the micronutrients zinc, selenium and copper as added support to immunonutrition, along with iron due to the wide spread prevalence of iron deficiency in the South African population. The acceptability of the developed stock cube was tested by preparing savoury rice and pea soup and having blue collar (n = 50) and white collar (n = 49) participants rate the acceptability on a 9-point hedonic scale, ranging from “dislike extremely” to “like extremely”. The savoury rice received a 41% “like very much” rating followed by a 24% “like moderately” rating. The pea soup was rated even more positively as it received a 42% “like very much” rating and a 29% “like extremely” rating. In addition, among the blue collar participants, significant (p < 0.05 for each) findings occurred with a greater liking of the sample dishes prepared with the developed stock cube by participants of the ethnic Black grouping, with Xhosa as home language and being married, as well as those participants who habitually prepare the meals in the household. A significant (p < 0.05) finding with the white collar participants was a greater liking of the sample dishes prepared with the developed stock cube among those participants who would be willing to make use of a stock cube with health benefits. The developed stock cube was also subjected to six months accelerated shelf-life stability testing, reflecting twelve months real time storage. The parameters measured were microbial growth, oxidative rancidity, antioxidant status and organoleptic changes. All microbial growths tested remained within the acceptable specification ranges. Oxidative rancidity, measured as the peroxide value, was detected analytically at the fifth and sixth samplings, but was not detectable organoleptically. The antioxidant status, measured as the TAC and the total polyphenol content, remained relatively stable during the testing period. Though no noticeable organoleptic changes were observed during the stability testing, there was a darkening of the colour by the second sampling. The results of the acceptance testing, as well as the shelf-life stability testing, support the conclusions that the study objectives of developing a stock cube with functional food characteristics and it being received positively by consumers were achieved. Keywords: stock cubes; corn steep liquor; phytochemicals; consumer acceptance; new product development