Zululand supermarkets started removing all Enterprise and Rainbow products from their shelves
Newborns and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk
AFTER almost 1 000 confirmed listeriosis cases and 180 deaths since January last year, the source of the outbreak has been traced to an Enterprise food facility in Polokwane.
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on Sunday held a press briefing at which he said the source of the outbreak had been traced to this factory, which had tested positive for the ST6 strain.
‘Another factory is in Sasolburg, Free State, where polony tested positive for listeria, but the strain is unconfirmed,’ he said.
‘A total of 93 people, or 85% of those infected who were interviewed by the NICD (National Institute for Communicable Diseases) report to have had polony and other cold meats.’
ALSO READ: How to reduce the risk of Listeriosis
During the press conference, Motsoaledi urged South Africans to avoid all cold meat products including viennas and frankfurters.
He said the National Consumer Commission will issue a recall of products distributed both nationally and internationally.
The recall is on both Enterprise and Rainbow products.
On Monday morning, Zululand supermarkets started removing all these products from their shelves.
The ZO first reported on the disease last month after three listeriosis cases in the King Cetshwayo District were confirmed.
One case was a newborn baby of eNseleni, while the other two were in Empangeni.
All three patients were successfully treated.
RCL Foods’ Chief Legal Officer, Stephen Heath, said the board and management remain ‘deeply concerned’ about the outbreak.
‘It is being treated as a crisis internally and a senior team is in contact with all relevant stakeholders to discuss the significant impacts of this issue.’
‘RCL Foods can confirm that its Wolwehoek processing plant has taken the precautionary measure to suspend all production of RCL Foods’ Rainbow polony brand.
‘Additionally, it is in the process of recalling all Rainbow polony products from its entire customer base, despite the results from the testing still pending.
He said the company is working closely with the departments of Health and Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, and the NICD.
‘RCL Foods is sharing all results from its testing, both internally and externally, with the relevant authorities.’
He said the specific strain responsible for the outbreak has not been isolated to the Wolwehoek facility.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
