NATIONAL NEWS - The Department of Health welcomes the decision by Tiger Brands to settle the listeriosis class action.
The department, in a statement on Monday, said it believes this represents an important milestone to bring the lengthy legal matter to finality and closure to the affected families whose loved ones succumbed to the deadly, but preventable and treatable disease.
The action follows an outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa in 2017 which affected more than 820 people and claimed 218 lives.
This was as a result of consuming contaminated processed food products, mainly polony and viennas, produced at the Tiger Brands facility in Polokwane and distributed from their Germiston facility.
“The department acknowledges the roles of all parties involved, including the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Tiger Brands, Richard Spoor Inc, and LHL Attorneys, who put the sufferings of the victims and their families at the centre stage during a protracted legal process,” the statement read.
The company announced on Monday that the lead reinsurer, which is primarily responsible for defending the class action against Tiger Brands, had authorised the insurers’ attorneys to make settlement offers.
This decision was made with the support and agreement of Tiger Brands.
The settlement offers will be directed to specific individuals who are members of the following classes of claimants who suffered damages due to listeriosis caused by the ST6 strain of Listeria monocytogenes (genotype L1-SL6-ST6-CT4148).
Eligible claimants include individuals who contracted listeriosis caused by ST6 or whose mothers contracted the disease; dependents of legal breadwinners; and legal dependents in the care of individuals who contracted listeriosis caused by ST6.
Meanwhile, the department said the NICD was providing the necessary medical records to enable decision-making in the process during the investigation of the listeriosis outbreak.
“The department is also appealing to those with enough evidence suggesting a causal link between the outbreak of listeriosis and the loss of their loved ones, to come forward so that their clinical records can be accessed for assessment to establish if indeed they have valid claims eligible for settlement, and to find lasting closure after grief.”
According to the department, listeriosis is a serious, but treatable and preventable disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
The bacteria are widely distributed in nature and can be found in soil, water, and vegetation.
Animal products and fresh produce, such as fruits and vegetables, can be contaminated from these sources.
“The outbreak highlighted the importance of consistent and strict adherence to food safety practices in the processing and handling of ready-to-eat foods, especially for mass supply.”
In addition, food safety and hygiene practices remain crucial for public health, preventing foodborne illnesses, reducing food waste, and avoiding costly food recalls.
“Food safety in SA is managed intersectorally by the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).
“Local government is responsible for municipal health services, which include the enforcement of food safety legislation. The dtic looks after all aspects of fish and fishery products, while Agriculture manages meat safety and animal health.”
Tiger Brands CEO, Tjaart Kruger, said yesterday’s announcement represented an important milestone and followed shortly on measures already taken in February 2025 to offer interim relief in the form of advance payments to identified claimants with urgent medical needs.
“It also demonstrates our commitment to continue to work closely with our insurers and their appointed attorneys to explore a resolution of the entire class action,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
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