Decisive government response on Listerosis welcome, but more system measures are urgently required to safeguard public health and safety – SACP
The government has decisively responded to stop the outbreak of Listerosis, a serious-to-deadly infection usually caused by the bacteria called listeria. All manufacturers have been instructed to recall processed, ready-to-eat meat products; exports of such products have been suspended; the public has been and still advised to avoid all processed, ready-to-eat meat products; the products must be isolated, returned to the stores for a refund and thorough cleaning must be carried out both at the stores and at home where they were kept. This intervention must be welcome by all, but more decisive measures are required.
The infection has already killed 180 people in South Africa. Almost one thousand more people, mostly pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with chronic health conditions have fallen ill because of the infection – BUT EVERYBODY IS AT RISK.
Test results by our scientists at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases traced the deadly bacteria to a Polokwane food production facility of Enterprise Foods, a subsidiary of Tiger Brands, a private monopoly company. Other facilities belonging to the monopoly, and another dominant, private company, Rainbow Chicken, are under inspection.
Unsurprisingly, instead of shouldering full responsibility, and true to their greed, the capitalist bosses of Tiger Brands were quick to dismiss the scientific findings, claiming that there is no link between their products, their methods of production and any of their facilities on the one hand and any of the listeria that caused the Listerosis on the other hand.
The SACP is calling on government to hold Tiger Brands accountable. Heavy penalties must be imposed for the negligence that resulted in the failure to prevent the bacteria at Tiger Brands Enterprise Foods in Polokwane, in Gauteng and elsewhere at the monopoly’s facilities, and at other companies that failed to uphold food health and safety, Rainbow Chicken included.