This follows a notification earlier today from a Winelands District Environmental Health Practitioner after the presence of Listeria monocytogenes was identified in an initial testing of a single batch of red viennas.
Further testing is necessary to confirm the presence of harmful levels of Listeria bacteria. The results of the further testing will take another five working days. In the meantime, the Shoprite Group has, as an added precautionary measure removed all Farmer’s Deli red and smoked viennas from its shelves until the product gets the all clear.
Listeria monocytogenes is not the same as Listeria ST6, which was linked by the Department of Health to fatal listeriosis cases that occurred in South Africa. The recall due to Listeria monocytogenes was only found in a single batch (BB 18 March B5/N) and is not linked to the recent Listeria ST6 recall related to Enterprise Foods. The production facility where this batch was packed has provided a full record of clean food safety tests which included testing for the presence of Listeria bacteria.
The Shoprite Group has invited any concerned customers to return purchases of any Farmer’s Deli 500g and 1kg red and smoked viennas products for a full refund. Proof of purchase will not be required. The Group has a team of food scientists and technologists and is working with its suppliers and the Department of Health to do all that is necessary to further contain the outbreak of Listeriosis.
