Listeriosis outbreak in SA affects retailers in Botswana

GABORONE, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Supermarkets in Botswana have embarked on a massive recall of products, especially ready-to-eat meat products from South Africa, as fear for listeriosis continues to hit Botswana.

The development went full scale on Tuesday following the government's notice that the main source of listeriosis outbreak in South Africa has been identified and traced to Enterprise Food Production Factory and Rainbow Chicken Limited.

Most retail outlets in Botswana are South Africa's chain-stores.

"The affected products include products from Enterprise and Rainbow products. These also include any other products manufactured or packaged for other retailers by Enterprise and Rainbow," said the government.

Shops on Tuesday were busy pulling out of shelves products from the South African companies - Enterprise and Rainbow.

"We are following a mandatory order from the ministry of health that has instructed all supermarkets, shops, distributors, transporters and importers, to recall all processed ready-to-eat meat products that have been implicated," said Thabang Nketsang, floor manager at Shoprite in Gaborone.

Botswana says will continue to collaborate with South African authorities to monitor the situation and give regular updates. Enditem