MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Although the listeriosis outbreak in South Africa has been a frightening reality since 2017, it seems that since the Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, announced the source on Sunday, 4 March being all processed meat products that are sold as ready-to-eat, consumers have been on the verge of panic this week - almost after the fact.
In March this year the laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases were at 948.
Gauteng saw the highest infection rate and death toll, with the Western Cape second.
The deadly outbreak has been responsible for the death of 180 people.
Two deaths have been confirmed in the Eden District.
In January this year, the Mossel Bay Advertiser reported on an 82-year-old Mossel Bay resident who contracted listeriosis and miraculously survived (82-jarige oorleef listeriose).
Source found
The origin of the listeriosis outbreak has been traced to polony from the Enterprise Foods factory in Polokwane. Preliminary results also implicated an Enterprise facility in Germiston in Gauteng.
A facility of Rainbow Chickens Limited near Sasolburg in the Free State is also under investigation.
While polony is definitely implicated, according to Minister Motsoaledi there is a risk of cross-contamination of other ready-to-eat processed meat products, either at production, distribution or retail.
This is because listeria on the exterior casing of polony can be transferred to other products which it comes into contact with.
This includes viennas, Russians, frankfurters, other sausages and cold meat products that are typically not cooked before consumption.
Research
It has been reported that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) worked for six months to find the source of the listeriosis outbreak.
As part of the process, interviews were conducted with 109 people who had been diagnosed with listeriosis.
Respondents were specifically asked what they had eaten in the month before they fell ill.
According to the results 93 respondents (85%) had eaten ready-to-eat processed meat products, mainly polony, followed by viennas, sausages and other "cold meat".
The daughter of the 82-year-old listeriosis survivor in Mossel Bay, Mariaan Viljoen, said in a previous interview that after her father, Ben Badenhorst was diagnosed with listeriosis, they also had to complete a lengthy survey for the Department of Health.
Upon enquiry from the Mossel Bay Advertiser this week regarding their thoughts on the source named, Viljoen said: "My parents don't eat polony or any other of the named sausages."
Viljoen said that the only thing that could possibly fit the description was bacon, a product her parents do consume.
Total recall
Following the Minister Motsoaledi's announcement, companies have mobilised to dispose of any listeriosis-linked products.
Enterprise Foods parent company, Tiger Brands, is recalling all affected product ranges nationwide.
Pick n Pay is also to withdraw all listeriosis-linked food items from its shelves.
Woolworths joined the drive and announced they too will recall a limited number of viennas and cold meats.
Pick n Pay, Shoprite and Woolworths have promised to refund customers who return such meat products.
Upon enquiry from the Advertiser, the Shoprite Group confirmed that all the affected products have been removed and isolated at stores following the announcement and that Tiger Brands are busy collecting the products.
They also said that consumers have reacted to the offer of returning and refunding products. Opened products can also be returned without proof of payment required.
Disposal
All recalled meat has been isolated and would be safely destroyed. Retailers will work according to strict guidelines determined by the Department of Health in collaboration with waste management companies.
Details on the exact disposal procedures which would be followed remains vague.
Experts, however, warned consumers disposing of possibly contaminated listeriosis-linked products this week.
It was stated that proper disposal of infected products is crucial and that mixing it with general refuse could compromise the health of the thousands of waste pickers working in landfills.
This could possibly cause a further outbreak.
Since the bacteria is resistant to cooling but sensitive to heat, contaminated meat products will need to be incinerated to ensure that the listeriosis pathogen is destroyed.
Afterwards, it must be disposed of at hazardous waste facility.
Smaller retailers
Although it seems as if on the larger scale the recall on products has been effectively mobilised, there are concerns about what happens at smaller community-based retailers.
The Mossel Bay Advertiser posed questions to the Eden District Municipality regarding this issues.
This included questions regarding the role of the municipality in the recall and disposal process involving community-based retailers such as spaza shops.
In their response the Eden District Municipality, at the time of print, said that in the absence of the directive from the national Department of Health, they could not comment but would do so as soon as they have received an official directive.
The municipality stated that there seems to be much confusion regarding the listeriosis issue countrywide.
Local impact
Franchise owner of The Sandwich Shop, Gawie van Staden said that they are not affected by the minister's announcement.
He said upon enquiry that it is a franchise principle to support local business, therefore they do not stock any of the implied products.
Van Staden also said that he would be very wary of any other products made at the same outlets, despite them not specifically being named.
Ronel Toua, owner of Roman's Pizza at Langeberg Mall said they too do not have suppliers affected by listeriosis.
She said the group would address consumers' queries in an official statement that would soon be on display at all their franchises.
This states that their suppliers conduct regular testing for listeriosis at registered laboratories.
Regarding the consumption of all cold meats and proceed meat products, they state: "Our pizza is cooked at 265 degrees Celsius for approximately six minutes. This will almost kill off any bacteria present in any meats. We are listeriosis free."
See a list of Enterprise and Rainbow products affected, supplied by the Shoprite Group:
Enterprise Rainbow products affected - March 2018
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
