Update
KNYSNA NEWS - Major retailers in Knysna have removed Enterprise meat products from their shelves following the Health Department's warning to the public to avoid all processed meat products in response to the country's listeriosis outbreak.
This comes after scientists traced the source of the present outbreak to an Enterprise Foods facility in Polokwane.
At least 180 people have died from the disease since January 2017 and over 940 cases have been reported so far.
Knysna residents reacted differently when asked about how they have been affected by the outbreak and recall of products:
Jacob Nthako: “I love polony but I had to throw it away and I will now use avocado as a substitute in the interim.”
Zola Mgwebu: “I bought a few canned products last week, but now I have to return them for the refund. My daughter consumed some of the polony but she seems okay for now, I hope she doesn't get sick.”
Philasande Nyandaze: “It's quite upsetting that we have to avoid to use cold meat. My parents said they will use cheese now as a substitute. We have to use red meat now, although it's a bit more expensive.”
Yolandi Maquena: “I don't know what listeriosis is, and I don't eat the canned meat, so I'm totally unaffected.”
Several supermarkets in Knysna cleared their shelves of most canned meat products including French polonies, Vienna sausages, bacon and Russian sausages.
• Pick n Pay Knysna stated in a press release that they have acted immediately to withdraw all products from the manufacturing sites identified by the Department of Health.
Pick n Pay: All enterprise products have been removed from shelves.
“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products such as polony and Russian sausages manufactured at the Rainbow facility in Sasolburg are also being withdrawn.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 at 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 In addition, as a precaution, Pick n Pay-branded chicken polony, manufactured by Rainbow, is also being withdrawn,” they said.
“All fridges and food preparation areas in our stores will now be recleaned 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.”
• Customers of Shoprite and Checkers are invited to return any Enterprise processed cold meat products and Rainbow Chicken polony for a full refund, the group said in a statement.
The products must still be in the original packaging – even if it has been opened – and proof of purchase is not required.
The Shoprite Group’s house brand and private label cold meats, sold under the Housebrand, Ritebrand and Farmer’s Deli brand names, are not affected by the recall.
Spar: Canned meat products not affected by the recall have been kept on shelves.
The group also removed and isolated all affected Enterprise processed cold meats and Rainbow Chicken polony from its fridges and delis.
• “Woolworths has a team of food scientists and technologists who proactively manage food safety, in addition to our independent food safety testing and auditing, to prevent microbial contamination of food. This testing includes Listeria,” the retail company said on its Facebook page.
Woolworths: Notices have been placed on shelves, advising customers that some products have been removed as per the recall. Photos: Yaseen Gaffar
• Knysna Spar at the Knysna Mall stated that they invite customers to return canned meat and the only Enterprise products still on their shelves are the ones unaffected by the recall. It was also stated that Spar-brand processed meat products are not affected as they are not manufactured by Enterprise or Rainbow and are completely safe.
Read a related article | Listeriosis: What you need to know
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