Product Recall on Limited Number of Ready to Eat Sliced Cold Meats and Viennas

CCC-CP-NOTICE-2 of 2018

WARNING NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Notice is hereby issued by the COMESA Competition Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Article 30 (1) (b) of the COMESA Competition Regulations (the “Regulations”), following its CCC-CP-Notice-No.-1-of-2018 on the Listeriosis Outbreak in South Africa, to warn the general public as an additional precautionary measure and avoid consumption of limited number of affected meat products.

Food safety is of a paramount important to consumers in the Common Market and the Commission takes all issues regarding the production of food, specifically those traded in the Common Market, seriously.

CCC-CP-Notice-No.-1-of-2018 was issued following the recent announcement of the Department of Health in South Africa on the source of the Listeriosis outbreak and safety recall notices by the National Consumer Commission (NCC) of South Africa to Tiger Brands Unit – Enterprise Food and Rainbow Chickens Limited. In this respect, CCC-CP-Notice-No.-1-of-2018 warned consumers against the consumption of the recalled processed meat products which are sold ready-to-eat including polony, viennas/sausages and other cold meats. The Commission wishes to inform the public that CCC-Notice-No-2-of-2018 is issued, as an additional precautionary measure, to warn the consumption of a limited number of meat products, especially viennas and cold meats, listed below:

• Wafer Thin Chargrilled Ham
• Wafer Thin Roasted Chicken
• Wafer Thin Smoked Ham
• Wafer Thin Cooked Ham
• Wafer Thin Smoked Chicken
• Sliced Lean Ham
• Ham Selection
• Country Ham
• Smoked & Roasted Gammon
• Lunceon Meat
• Cold Meat Assortment
• Smoked VIennas
• Red Viennas
• Cocktail VIennas
• Smoked Cheesy Viennas
• Bulk Salami Sticks
• Salami Sticks
• Plain Sticks
• Plain Salami Sticks
• Spicy Salami Sticks
• Plain Salami Bites
• Coriander Salami
• Spicy Salami Bites
• Sliced Salami
• Salami
• German Salami
• Sliced Peppered Salami
• Spicy Salami
• Local Chorizo

In this regard, the Commission wishes to inform the general public to surrender to relevant authorities of COMESA Member States among others Public Health Departments, any of the products listed above including opened and empty packaging. The Commission has further invoked Article 31 (2) (b) of the Regulations and directed the manufacturers of the said products to cease the exportation into or sale to the public by their distributors and related dealers in the Common Market until such a time when the situation returns to normalcy and the general public are informed accordingly.

Should you require more information or clarification on the matter you may contact the undersigned on +265 1 772 466 or email: glipimile@comesa.int.

Click here to download the Notice of the Commission issued on 15^th March 2018, CCC-CP-Notice No-1-of 2018, Warning the Public on the Listeriosis Outbreak in South Africa.

Click here to download the English Version pdf format of the CCC-CP-Notice-2-of-2018.

Click here to download the French Version pdf format of the CCC-CP-Notice-2-of-2018.

Warning Notice to the Public on Listeriosis Outbreak in South Africa

CCC-CP-NOTICE 1 of 2018

WARNING NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Listeriosis Outbreak in South Africa

The COMESA Competition Commission (the “Commission”) hereby notifies the general public that following investigations by the South African Authorities into the Listeriosis outbreak in South Africa, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) of South Africa has issued safety recall notices to Tiger Brands Unit – Enterprise Food and Rainbow Chickens Limited. The recalled products, which are reported to have been contaminated by Listeria, are processed meat products which are sold ready-to-eat and these include polony, viennas/sausages and other cold meats. The Commission has become aware that there is also further risk of cross-contamination of other ready-to-eat processed meat products through the transfer of listeria from contaminated products, either at production, distribution or retail.

The Commission’s research has revealed that Listeriosis is a food-borne disease which comes due to consumption of contaminated foods, particularly, unpasteurized milk, soft cheese and meat products. It is caused by listeria monocytogenes and unlike most food-borne pathogens, listeria multiplies readily in refrigerated foods that have been contaminated. According to the information available to the Commission, there is no vaccine against Listeriosis.

In view of the foregoing and pursuant to Article 30 (1) (b) of the COMESA Competition Regulations (the “Regulations”), the Commission would therefore like to inform the general public to exercise caution and avoid consumption of the affected meat products. The Commission has further invoked Article 31 (2) (b) of the Regulations and directed Enterprise Food and Rainbow Chickens to Cease the exportation into or sale to the public by their distributor and related dealers in the Common Market until such a time when the situation returns to normalcy and the general public is informed accordingly.

The Commission welcomes any representations on the matter from all interested stakeholders and the general public. Should you require more information or clarification on the matter you may contact the undersigned on +265 1 772 466 or email: glipimile@comesa.int.

Click here to download the English Version of the Warning Notice to the Public on Listeriosis Outbreak in South Africa.

Click here to download the French Version of the Warning Notice to the Public on Listeriosis Outbreak in South Africa.