Major South African retail chains recall products linked to listeriosis

JOHANNESBURG, March.4 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's two major retail chains, Shoprite and Pick n Pay, will be recalling all products linked to a recent listeriosis outbreak.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Sunday that at least 180 people have died of listeriosis since January 2017, and total cases reported have risen to over 940.

The Shoprite Group confirmed on Sunday that it has started to remove the products of Enterprise Foods and Rainbow Chicken from its shelves.

The company said in a statement that customers who may have bought Enterprise Foods and Rainbow Chicken processed meat will be fully refunded.

Like-wise, Pick n Pay is also removing the products.

"All Enterprise products... have already been recalled by the company concerned and we are urgently withdrawing them from our stores," said David North, group executive for strategy and corporate affairs at Pick n Pay Stores.

All ready-to-eat products manufactured at the Rainbow facility in Sasolburg are being withdrawn, the company said.

"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 In addition, as a precaution, Pick n Pay branded chicken polony, manufactured by Rainbow, is also being withdrawn," the statement added.

Cold meat products produced by Enterprise Foods in Limpopo and Germiston, and by Rainbow Chicken Limited in Sasolburg, have been identified as a source of the outbreak, said Motsoaledi, the health minister.

This followed a safety recall by the National Consumer Commission after an Enterprise Foods factory in Polokwane was identified as a source of the disease.

Motsoaledi on Sunday identified polony as a definite source, but warned that sausages and cold meats not typically cooked could also be affected due to the risk of cross contamination.

Two more facilities have also been singled out pending more tests to determine the sequence type. These are an Enterprise facility in Germiston on the East Rand, and a Rainbow chicken facility in the Free State.

Listeriosis is caused by the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium and can contaminate animal products and fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables.

Motsoaledi has called on retailers to clean their fridges, meat slicers, and either remove the ready-to-eat meat products or place them in plastic bags in separate fridges. Enditem