Retailers are disposing of all Enterprise and Rainbow Chicken products after the announcement today that they had traced the source of the Listeriosis outbreak to an Enterprise facility in Polokwane.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) also said that Enterprise facility in Germiston on the East Rand, and a Rainbow chicken facility in the Free State could also be carriers of the virus, but further tests were needed.
The Western Cape recorded the second highest number of cases reported, with Gauteng recording the highest. Motsoaledi urged anyone who has purchased Enterprise or Rainbow Chicken products to throw them away and clean out their fridges to avoid cross-contamination.
Supermarkets have offered consumers a full refund for any of the products bought from their establishment.
Retailers are starting to throw away the poison from #Enterprise in fight for #Listeriosis pic.twitter.com/sCvZ016irX
— Musa Mathebula (@Musaprojects) March 4, 2018
Major supermarket chain, Pick n Pay said in post on Twitter:
“Following the Minister of Health’s announcement earlier this afternoon on the source of the listeria outbreak, Pick n Pay has acted immediately to withdraw all products from the manufacturing sites identified by the Department of Health.
“Enterprise and Rainbow supply a very broad range of retailers across South Africa. All Enterprise products (including the Bokkie, Renown, Lifestyle and Mieliekip brands) have already been recalled by the company concerned and we are urgently withdrawing them from our stores. In addition, all ready-to-eat products such as polony and russian sausages manufactured at the Rainbow facility in Sasolburg are also being withdrawn. This action is taking place in all Pick n Pay and Boxer stores. In addition, as a precaution, Pick n Pay branded chicken polony, manufactured by Rainbow, is also being withdrawn.
“All fridges and food preparation areas in our stores will now be re-cleaned to prevent any cross-contamination. Recalled meat is being isolated and will be safely destroyed. The safety of customers is always our top concern. Any customer who is concerned that they may have bought a ready-to-eat meat product linked to the outbreak can return it to our stores for a full refund.”
Listeria is a bacterium commonly occurs in soil, water, vegetation and in the faeces of some animals. It can contaminate a wide variety of food types, including meat and meat products, dairy products (unpasteurised and pasteurised), fresh and frozen produce (fruits, vegetables and sprouts) and ready-to-eat products.
Picture: Pixabay
