Last reviewed October 2026
Quick answer: Meat and poultry processors in South Africa face two deliberate risks: species substitution and false claims on raw materials (food fraud), and tampering with open product on the line (food defence). ASC Food Safety Training’s online VACCP and TACCP courses train the people who control both. Courses cost R1 450 to R1 750 each, or R3 713 for all three.
The evidence: meat fraud happens here
A 2013 Stellenbosch University study tested processed meat products sold in South Africa. It found species not declared on the label in 68% of them, including donkey, goat and water buffalo.
That result is why certification auditors look closely at a meat processor’s vulnerability assessment. A supplier certificate on file does not prove what is in the carton.
Food fraud risks a meat or poultry vulnerability assessment must score
| Fraud type | How it looks in meat and poultry |
|---|---|
| Substitution | Cheaper or undeclared species in mince, sausage or processed meat |
| Mislabelling | False claims of origin, halal, free-range or species |
| Document fraud | Forged halal certificates, certificates of analysis or audit reports |
| Concealment | Coating or glazing that hides damage or poor quality |
| Grey market and diversion | Product sold outside its intended channel, past its date or outside the cold chain |
The Food Fraud Coordinator course teaches you to score each raw material against these types using the seven vulnerability factors in ISO 22002-100:2025 clause 16.3. You then add controls such as specifications, certificate verification, targeted testing and supplier audits.
Food defence risks on a meat or poultry site
Meat plants handle a lot of open product and often employ large shift teams and contractors. A threat assessment needs to cover:
- Open product on the line, where an insider could contaminate it
- Water tanks and ingredient stores
- Change rooms and staff access points
- Receiving docks, where seals should be checked on arrival
- Dispatch, where loads need tamper-evident seals and records
The Food Defence Coordinator course trains you to score these points by threat actor and access point, and to build mitigation in four layers: deter, deny, detect and respond.
Which course for which person in a meat plant
| Role | Course | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Procurement and supplier approval | Food Fraud Coordinator | R1 750 |
| Plant, operations, engineering or security manager | Food Defence Coordinator | R1 750 |
| HACCP team members and internal auditors | Food Fraud (VACCP) and Food Defence (TACCP) overview | R1 450 |
| QA or technical manager | Coordinator Pathway Bundle (all three) | R3 713 |
All courses are online and self-paced. The coordinator courses include a practical assessment marked by a trainer, with coaching notes and a second attempt.
Frequently asked questions
Do meat processors need both VACCP and TACCP?
Yes, if they are certified to FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS or SQF. Every GFSI-recognised scheme requires both assessments, separately from HACCP.
Does testing incoming meat solve the fraud risk?
Not on its own. A test only finds what it is designed to look for, and a certificate of analysis is not proof of authenticity. The Food Fraud Coordinator course covers what your testing can and cannot detect.
Can we train a whole plant team at once?
Yes. ASC enrols groups on one company invoice and gives managers a dashboard to track progress. WhatsApp +27 61 483 0381 for a same-day quote.
Enrol
Protect your products, your labels and your customers’ trust. Get all three courses in the bundle for R3 713, or choose the course that matches your role above.
Related reading: How to do a food fraud vulnerability assessment