The article discusses the importance of food safety and security in South Africa, focusing on preventing contamination and ensuring safe food handling practices. It highlights the significance of traditional crops and the role of science in sustainable food production. Food safety involves preventing foodborne illnesses by following proper handling and storage procedures. Various academic fields like chemistry and microbiology contribute to ensuring food processing safety. Effective food safety regulation is crucial for the global food chain, as unsafe practices can have serious consequences for companies and consumers. With the global food supply chain growing in scale and complexity, maintaining food safety is essential for public health and well-being.