WOOLWORTHS has recalled its Frozen Savoury Rice Mix following a worldwide product recall issued by the Hungarian food safety agency. In a statement, the company said the product, which is sourced from a factory in Hungary, had been implicated as the potential source of a Listeria outbreak in Europe.
Listeria is a bacterium that is naturally found in the environment. It commonly occurs in soil, water, vegetation and in the faeces of some animals. It can contaminate a wide variety of food types, including meat and meat products, dairy products both unpasteurised and pasteurised, fresh and frozen produce and ready-to-eat products.
“Food safety is of critical importance to Woolworths and we take all issues regarding the production of our food extremely seriously. The Woolworths product is sourced from Belgium and contains frozen sweetcorn sourced from the Greenyard Factory in Hungary. This Greenyard Factory has been implicated as the potential source of a Listeria outbreak in Europe.
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The company added none of their other frozen sweetcorn or vegetable products are affected.
“Customers who have purchased the product, should return the product to their local store for a full refund. For more information please contact our customer service centre on 0860 022 002 or visit woolworths.co.za,” the company said in a statement.
More than 190 people died following a major listeriosis outbreak in the country since the outbreak late last year.
In May this year, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said the number of cases of Listeriosis reported had decreased since the implicated products were recalled in 4 March.
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