A year ago 200 people lost their lives to listeriosis [1], the outbreak exposed how big food companies don't care about what is in our food and if it's healthy and safe for us to eat. To make things worse, the Department of Trade and Industry has still failed to put in place new regulations for processed meats a year after the outbreak These regulations were delayed by big food companies by 4 years [2]. Listeriosis might not be in the news but we all know the devastation it caused. If enough of us come together and expose government’s failure to put in place regulations a year on, the Minister for Trade and Industry may have no choice but to finally implement these regulations. We need regulations that force companies to make sure the food they sell us does not threaten our health and safety.
During the Listeriosis outbreak last year that killed more than 200 people, Tiger Brands refused to allow independent health inspectors into their factory twice [3]. Only after the police intervened- were the health inspectors allowed entry. Tiger Brands are also fighting a class action lawsuit drawn against them by claiming they aren’t liable for the Listeriosis outbreak [4] even though we know the outbreak came from their factory [5].
It was only after a national outcry that Tiger Brands recalled the infected batches of polony and called for studies to find the causes of the outbreak. Government stated the crisis was over but listeriosis infected polony was still found in rural areas across the country [6]. This has all exposed that big food companies like Tiger Brand are happy to send us infected or unhealthy food that is killing us, so long as it makes them more money. We could be in danger of another outbreak all because the food industry isn’t being regulated properly.
Listeriosis is dangerous particularly when people don’t have access to clean water and healthcare. Over 200 people died in the outbreak and just under 1000 people, mainly pregnant womxn*, children and the elderly, fell sick. [7] We can’t allow Tiger Brands and their unsafe polony to put more of Mzansi’s people in danger.
If enough of us come together and join this campaign we can sound the alarm and shine the national spotlight on the truth; another listeriosis outbreak could be on our doorstep and it’s clear big food companies like Tiger Brands aren’t worried because they care more about their profits than our health. The Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel will have no choice but to respond to our pressure and ensure the speedy implementation of processed meat product regulations that the food industry have delayed. This will make sure there are proper checks and balances in place that force companies to put the health of our nation first. The people of Mzansi shouldn’t get sick because of corporate greed.
We call on you, Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel, to speedily implement the proposed processed meat products regulations.
Dear Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel,
One year on after 200 people lost their lives to Listeriosis, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) has still not implemented the specifications for processed meat products. As Minister for Trade and Industry it is your responsibility to ensure the NRCS does it's job to protect human health, safety and the environment. The fact industry delayed specifications by four years, and we still don't have specifications a year after the listeriosis outbreak, suggests the Department of Trade and Industry is failing to put in place and enforce regulations to stop greedy companies from threatening our health and safety. We the undersigned call on you to ensure processed meat product specifications are put in place as soon as possible, but at the latest the end of this year.
**Update on campaign**
Good news! The Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel finally signed new processed meat regulations. The regulations came into effect in October 2019 [8]. These regulations were first developed in 2014, but industry rejected them [9]. Together with Heala, we helped build pressure on the Minister to act, which hopefully is what pushed the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) and the Department of Trade and Industry to finally put in place the regulations. The listeriosis outbreak put food regulations and corporate greed in the spotlight.
[1] Tiger Brands to Fight Listeria Class Action, Reuters April 2019
[2] Cold meat industry blocked compulsory specifications for 4 years, ENCA March 2018
[3] Listeria sleuths ‘called for’ backup, Lynley Donelly for the Mail & Guardian March 2018
[4] Victims of listeriosis outbreak wait for justice and closure, Cheryl Kahla for the South African January 2019
[5] Listeriosis outbreak: How it started, how it was traced, and how it was finally stopped, Riaan Grobler for News24 September 2018
[6] Listeria-tainted polony still on the shelves in rural areas, Tanya Farber for Business Day October 2018
[7]
Listeriosis outbreak: How it started, how it was traced, and how it was finally stopped, Riaan Grobler for News24 September 2018
[8] Regulations for processed meat to take effect in October, ANA Reporter for IOL September 2019
[9] Listeriosis policy not yet passed despite outbreak killing 200 people, Tebogo Monama for IOL June 2019
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