cold meat polony sausage

Assortment of cold meats, not Tiger Brands products. Image credit: Pixabay

Victims of listeriosis outbreak wait for justice and closure

Nearly 500 victims of the listeriosis outbreak have heeded human rights lawyer Richard Spoor’s call to sign up for a class action lawsuit against Tiger Brands.

cold meat polony sausage

Assortment of cold meats, not Tiger Brands products. Image credit: Pixabay

The Gauteng High Court granted Richard Spoor’s team permission in December to launch the class action and bring about justice for victims of the outbreak. Spoor said it is the biggest food poisoning case in history and added:

“About 206 people died. About 200 women had miscarriages. […] I have not been able to find a reference in any case where such a huge number of people died.”

Pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems were most at risk as the outbreak swept across South Africa during 2017 and 2018. The outbreak was only officially declared over in September 2018.

At the time, the source of the outbreak was traced to a Tiger Brands factory in Polokwane.

Spoor told the Sunday Tribune that they have a strong case against Tiger Brands, who admitted to the contamination of their polony brand. He explained:

“I think our chances are strong. Tiger Brands admitted their products were contaminated, and people who consumed them could have become sick, died or lost unborn babies. The only thing they are denying is that they were negligent and legally liable.”

Read – Listeriosis still a threat as death toll climbs above 200

Even though the outbreak ended months ago, families are still dealing with the trauma. Zoe Mahopo from Sowetan Live spoke to two listeriosis survivors.

Listeriosis victims need closure

Silindile Mbatha of Soweto lost her baby during the outbreak, while Mpotseng Moloi from Alexandra noticed her unborn baby had stopped moving. She said:

“My heart was broken. It was not the first time I was losing a baby. I had thought that things would be different this time around. I was looking forward to having a daughter.”

All in all 200 listeriosis related deaths were reported with 1 065 cases of listeriosis confirmed during the terrifying period last year when consumers lived in fear of contaminated food. Moloi, who’s baby thankfully survived, added:

“I remember watching the news from the hospital bed and seeing the minister talk about people who died because of the disease. That’s when I realised how serious it was. I was traumatised.”

Lawyers representing the families affected by the outbreak are expected to file court papers by the end of next week starting the process of trying to give closure to the families that are still trying to come to terms with their grief.

Tiger Brands reported R2.4 billion profit for the year ending September 2018. The company believes that should a judgment be granted, their product liability insurance would cover it. Spokesperson
Nevashnee Naicker said:

“We have insurance appropriate for a company of our size in respect of product liability. Our insurers have confirmed that the policy will respond. However, as we have yet to receive an enumerated claim, we cannot determine the extent, if any, of any further exposure.”