The disposal of treated and untreated sewage near shellfish harvesting areas is a global concern. Discharged sewage may be contaminated with enteric viruses present in human faeces. Bivalve molluscs, in turn, act as vectors for enteric viruses through bioaccumulation and retention of these viruses during the filter-feeding process, resulting in outbreaks of infections due to the consumption of contaminated shellfish. This review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published from 2012 until September 2022, obtained from online databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and Science Direct, highlighting the challenges that the shellfish industry is faced with concerning pollutants ending up in the shellfish production areas. Developed countries have made some advancements by upgrading sewage infrastructures, which reduced viral loads in sewage. However, it is difficult to measure the significance of these improvements, as there are no regulations in place which stipulate the permissible limits for viruses. In most developing countries, including South Africa, there is a lack of effective management plans for virus monitoring in shellfish harvesting areas. The findings of this study indicated a need for extensive research on the origin of viruses, their interactions with other organisms within the marine ecosystem, the quantification of viruses within the Saldanha Bay harbour, and the development of virus management plans which currently are non-existent.

Food fraud has emerged as a significant and under-recognised public health threat, with documented global incidents resulting in severe illness, hospitalisations, and fatalities. International estimates suggest that up to 9% of the global food trade is adulterated. In South Africa, evidence of mislabelling, substitution, counterfeit products, illicit trade, and the use of unauthorised additives continues to surface, yet the national burden and regulatory response remain insufficiently characterised. This review synthesised peer-reviewed literature and articles from reputable South African media sources published from 2015 to December 2025, focusing on food fraud within the South African context. Searches were conducted across Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and PubMed, supplemented by Google Scholar and the EU Food Fraud Database, with emphasis on studies reporting fraud associated with South African food products. Standard PRISMA procedures guided the final selection of fifteen (14) eligible articles. These studies reveal widespread food fraud driven mainly by economic gain. Common practices include substituting high-value products, mislabelling meat and seafood, altering dates on expired goods, and producing counterfeits with unauthorised additives and packaging. Collectively, these factors compromise consumer health, undermine industry integrity, and impede effective surveillance. Strengthening South Africa’s food fraud prevention ecosystem will require coordinated multisectoral engagement, targeted investment in detection technologies, and robust regulatory reforms.

Bivalve molluscs are a good source of high quality protein and perform important ecological functions. Their ability to bioaccumulate materials in their soft tissues makes them suitable aquatic species for biomonitoring of environmental conditions. The discharge of treated and untreated sewage into the bivalve-growing areas is a concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bacterial microbiota in shellfish farms in Saldanha Bay harbour using pathogens commonly associated with shellfish-related foodborne disease outbreaks. Seawater and mussel samples were collected from five sampling points located in three sampling locations. Oyster samples were collected from the harbour deck immediately after harvesting by the farmers. The most probable number (MPN) method was used to enumerate E. coli and faecal coliforms. Cultural methods were used for the detection of Salmonella and Vibrio spp. The E. coli concentrations for 15 March and 14 July are <0.18 MPN/100ml at all sampling sites and for 25 August, <0.18 MPN/100ml for all sampling sites except sampling site SP2 (0.2 MPN/100ml). Spikes were observed on the total MPN counts in winter. Salmonella and Vibrio spp. were not detected. However, other bacterial species were identified through their phenotypic profile using the VITEK 2 system. Based on the low E. coli-MPN concentrations, the study concluded that the molluscs were safe for human consumption. Further studies need to be conducted on the bacterial species identified.