Headlines

LISTERIA HYSTERIA

9 March 2018 · Platinum Bushvelder

In a public press release released by Tiger Brands on 5 March, it read: “We are aware of the developments around certain processed food products with regards to the outbreak of listeriosis.”

The Minister of Health announced on 4 March 2018, that following the detection of listeria, government – through the relevant regulatory authority – issued a directive for the national recall of affected products.

The Tiger Brands Foundation is a separate legal entity and would like to advise the public to direct all concerns related to the Enterprise-branded products being recalled to the Tiger Brands Limited management team.

“We will however work closely with Enterprise’s parent company and will keep all our stakeholders informed of all material developments around this issue,” the press release reads.

Listeriosis is a serious bacterial infection caused by the Listeria Monocytogenes. The bacteria are spread when people eat food contaminated with the bacterium.

The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhoea.

Listeria can survive in fridge temperatures of 4 degrees Celsius. The infection incubates for between three and 70 days. There is no vaccine that can prevent the infection. The main preventative measure is good basic hygiene and safe food preparation and storage. To prevent listeriosis thoroughly cook raw foods from animal sources, beef, pork, and poultry.

contaminated food was disposed of.

Concerned residents from Swartklip and Northam visited Laerskool Platina Primary on Monday, 5 March, to help inspect the kids’ lunch for listeriosis. Here Chantel Steynberg is checking the young ones’ lunch boxes.

In an interview with the Platinum Bushvelder newspaper with a listeriosis survivor, Miriam Manyako, she said:
“My grandson and I diagnosed with listeria on 17 February. We had horrible headaches, vomited nonstop, had diarrhoea and a high temperature. We felt weak and dehydrated. I was hospitalised for two weeks, and my grandson for one week. Be warned! If you display any of the symptoms, go see your doctor as soon as possible. I would like to thank doctor De Kock at Mediclinic for their professional and friendly service.”