Pretoria: SOUTH Africa’s Health ministry has issued a recall notice of all processed cold meat products to prevent the spread of listeria that has killed at least 180 people since January.
The source of the listeria outbreak has been identified following tests by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
Motsoaledi said tests confirm the polony and products from an Enterprise Foods factory in Polokwane‚ Limpopo‚ are the source of the world’s largest outbreak of listeria.
“Avoid all processed meat products that are sold as ready to eat‚” said Motsoaledi.
“The National Consumer Commission has issued the manufacturer involved [Enterprise] with food recall notices.”
Listeriosis is food poisoning caused by eating foods contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) bacterium.
In pregnant women, the infection can result in miscarriage, premature delivery, serious infection of the new-born or even stillbirth.
The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur.
But infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness.
