Also read: #Listeriosis: Enterprise and Rainbow Chicken issued with recall notices

According to Motsoaledi, the said cases were confirmed following government’s efforts in tracing the source of the disease outbreak which is currently the biggest in the history of SA. Tiger Brands, which owns Enterprise Foods, on Sunday issued a statement following an announcement by the health department that the outbreak of listeriosis, which has claimed 180 lives in South Africa, has been traced to an Enterprise Foods facility in Polokwane. “A detergent could get superficial cells but leave behind some bacteria.”

 

Motsoaledi said that people at risk such as pregnant women‚ those with HIV and those with weakened immune systems had to avoid all ready-to-eat products such as viennas‚ polony and frankfurters. We are working very closely with the officials at present to conduct the process and will provide updates to the public on this matter.” 

 

More than 16 environmental samples from the Polokwane factory tested positive for the listeriosis monocytogenes strain ST 6. At today’s press briefing, Motsoaledi said, “The source of the present outbreak can be confirmed to be the Enterprise food production facility in Polokwane.”

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs), together with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), and officials from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) had visited the food production site in Polokwane. JOHANNESBURG - RCL Foods said on Monday its Wolwehoek processing plant had suspended all production of its Rainbow Polony brand and was in the process of recalling the product from its entire customer base over a listeriosis outbreak. Listeriosis affects the elderly‚ those with compromised immune systems such as people with Aids and diabetics, and newborn babies

 

The disease is particularly scary for pregnant woman who may have no symptoms when being infected with the bacteria but can pass it onto their babies. Have you read: Pick n Pay removes listeriosis-linked food from shelves

RCL Foods said on Monday its Wolwehoek processing plant taking its precautionary measures "despite the fact that the results from testing of its environmental samples are still pending".
South African officials determine that the country's ongoing listeriosis outbreak—which is already the world's deadliest listeriosis outbreak, killing over 180 people and sickening 1,000 more—was caused by contaminated "Polony" processed meat. The Ministry of Health issues a recall of contaminated products from RCL Foods and from Tiger Brands subsidiary company Enterprise Food and advises the public to avoid all processed meat products that are sold as ready-to-eat.