Health practitioners assist recall

THE City of Cape Town’s environmental health practitioners are set to assist with the recall of products following the national Department of Health’s announcement that the source of the listeriosis outbreak has been identified.

In a statement, the City announced that its health practitioners would visit smaller outlets to establish if they were aware of the recall and to record volumes of products being kept on site.

This information can then be used to aid the recall and ensure that the identified products are removed from shelves. City Health is also set to visit fast food outlets and other food traders, and will continue with its education and awareness campaign around personal hygiene, food safety and other risks to human health.

“It is important to note that most people who consume food products contaminated with listeria will not get sick and will remain asymptomatic.

“Of those who do become ill, most will develop self-limiting fever and diarrhoea. However, people at high risk of developing severe disease include pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly, people with underlying conditions such as diabetes, cancer, chronic liver or kidney disease, and people with weakened immune systems due to HIV or chemotherapy,” said mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith.

The Western Cape Education Department said it was taking steps to ensure that pupils and teachers avoided ready-to-eat meat. “We can confirm that our school feeding schemes do not serve processed meat.

“The SG issued a circular today advising schools to encourage children and staff to avoid all processed meat products. The circular also serves to remind schools to continue monitoring food preparation procedures at school kitchens,” said WCED MEC Debbie Schafer’s spokesperson, Jessica Shelver.

Shelver added that it was pivotal that food preparation in school kitchens be monitored at all times. “It is equally important to exercise caution when buying food from merchants selling food near schools.

“Hand-washing before eating and after visiting toilets is of utmost importance, and also keeping raw and cooked meat separate from other foods,” she said.

On Sunday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that the source of listeriosis was Enterprise Foods factories in Polokwane, Germiston and the Free State. Rainbow Chicken was also identified as a source.

“Inspections are conducted routinely at food premises, announced and unannounced. The National Environmental Health Norms and Standards provides that these premises are inspected once a quarter,” said Foster Mohale, director of communications for the Department of Health.