University of Pretoria Hosts Lecture on Hygienic Design

South Africa has taken a significant step forward in food safety and engineering education with the successful delivery of a university lecture dedicated to hygienic design. Held on 19 May 2025 at the University of Pretoria, the event brought hygienic design principles to the forefront of academic training for final-year Food Science students.

This lecture, part of the Food Engineering module (Theme 15 – Hygienic Engineering and Design), was the result of a dynamic collaboration between academia and industry. It was organised by Prof Gyebi Duodu, Head of the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, and Peet Grobler, EHEDG Authorised Trainer and Chair of the EHEDG Regional Section South Africa.

Their shared vision: to equip the next generation of food scientists and engineers with essential knowledge in hygienic engineering, in line with global food safety best practices and guidelines. By bringing these principles directly into the classroom, the University of Pretoria is helping to prepare future food professionals to design, operate, and maintain equipment and facilities that meet the highest hygienic standards.

But this is more than a single event—it's a model for expanding hygienic design education across the African continent and beyond. With the leadership of local EHEDG specialists and engaged academic institutions, initiatives like this will support safer food production systems across the region. We look forward to the next lesson, next week.