Exciting tour of factory for two Mossel Bay girls

Gallery Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Two local children enjoyed a tour of the Nestlé factory in Voorbaai, Mossel Bay, on Friday, 16 July.

They were chosen by leaders in the community as those who would appreciate the outing, learn from it and who would not usually have the chance to do something like this.

Kira Brown of Isalathiso Primary School and Yousra Mano of Diaz Primary were wide eyed, taking everything in and after the outing, bubbling over, telling everyone about their exciting time.

Chris Eksteen of the human resources department at the factory explained things simply, so the children could understand everything. Condensed milk, caramel and evaporated milk are made at the factory, as well as dried milk products.

When the children arrived they were surprised to see a TV screen with themselves on it and a little square was around their faces with their body temperature, such as 36.7C, on it. This is a super-high tech way to check the temperature of everyone who enters the factory because of Covid-19.

Photo gallery: Exciting factory tour for Mossel Bay girls

The two girls had to watch a safety video explaining the factory rules so that people do not get hurt.

Then they were given safety clothes to put on: a white jacket and pants, safety shoes, a head covering and earplugs.

All the staff at the factory were smiley and friendly and looked as if they enjoy their jobs. "Ah, they are so cute," they said when they saw Kira and Yousra in their safety clothes, because they looked like miniature factory staff.

Watch a video below:

Taste products
Kira and Yousra got to taste condensed milk, caramel and evaporated milk. They were taken to the laboratory where staff taste to make sure the products have enough sugar and taste right.

Yousra and Kira drinking condensed milk.

Also, the products are checked using science experiments to make sure there are no germs or other things that should not be there.

The children watched as cans raced along conveyor belts and staff put stickers on them. Machines in the factory packed the cans into cardboard boxes and put plastic over them.

There is a machine that X-rays the cans to make sure there are no metal pieces or other objects in the cans.

Nestlé even has its own laundry where all the white overalls that staff have to wear are washed.

Chris explained: "Washing powder and fabric softener have strong smells and we can't allow people to wash their own clothes at home because these smells might go into our products."

Special soap that does not smell is used in the laundry at Nestlé.

Clean and hygienic
Everything was extremely clean and hygienic in the factory. "With a food factory one must be very clean," Chris explained.

Just like the staff, the girls had to wash and sanitise their hands before going into every part of the factory.

The girls got to meet the manager of the factory, Huynh Khoa.

After the tour they were given special Nestlé treats to take home.

Yousra was surprised, saying: "The factory is so big." The girls felt they had done a lot of walking when they finished the tour. Kira said: "People work hard here."

Nestlé staff at work.