Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
News

South African Court Close to Certifying Class Action in World's Worst Listeriosis Outbreak

November 30, 2018

Source: Food Safety News

Prominent South African trial attorney Richard Spoor is close to having a judge certifying as a class people who can sue Tiger Brands over the largest listeriosis outbreak in world history. And Spoor credits Tiger Brands with agreeing to go along with the class action when South Africa’s largest food company was within its rights to delay the process by years.

A class action allows a group of plaintiffs to proceed over individual classes. The listeriosis class action for the more than 1,000 victims and their survivors is expected to be certified within a few days by Deputy Judge Phineas Mojapelo.

The outbreak, which also included 216 deaths, was traced to the Tiger Brands polony manufacturer at Polokwane, South Africa. Among the deaths were almost 100 infants under 28 days old who were infected before birth. There could have been more deaths. Health officials reported they had final outcome details on only part of the patients, but those numbers showed a mortality rate of 27 percent.

South Africa’s high court in Johannesburg must certify the class before the case can proceed. America’s prominent food safety attorney, Bill Marler, is consulting with Spoor on the litigation. (Marler is also the publisher of Food Safety News.)

The deputy judge in South Africa indicated his willingness to certify the class after some changes are made in the order that he otherwise found to be reasonable. Mojapelo said he wanted to improve upon some paragraphs he found “too vague.”

The deputy judge said he does not want the order to be subject to any future contests. He wants the order to be clear so that in the event the claimants lose in court, they will not owe the lawyers any money.

Once the class is certified, Spoor’s next challenge will be to find all the eligible Listeria victims and explain to them how the process could help them receive compensation. Spoor and other trial lawyers representing the plaintiffs are taking the case on contingency, meaning they do not get paid unless they win.

Enterprise polony, made by Tiger Brands, was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes after it was collected from Soweto where nine children at a daycare center fell ill. City health inspectors collected samples from a local hospital. Polony, a processed meat product, is similar to bologna and hot dog products in the U.S.

The largest detected Listeria outbreak in known history was declared ended in September by officials in South Africa. Between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 17, 2018, South Africa recorded 1,060 laboratory-confirmed cases of listeriosis, including 216 deaths.

The outbreak was linked to a ready-to-eat (RTE) processed meat plant owned by Tiger Brands, the Enterprise Foods production facility in Polokwane. However, investigators for the government and in the private sector have not been able to determine how the outbreak strain was introduced to the affected factory.

A total of 12 million South African rand ($810,000) was spent to deal with the outbreak.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi gave processed meats the all clear at a media briefing on Sept. 4.

“A team of World Health Organization, international and local experts (have) agreed that because no cases of listeriosis due to the outbreak strain have been identified since the first week of June 2018, and that over the last two months the incidence rate of laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases has dropped to pre-outbreak levels, the outbreak of listeriosis is over,” Motsoaledi said.


Author(s): Food Safety News

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Microbiological
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Facilities
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Best Practices
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • mold
    Sponsored byIFC

    Tackling Mold Remediation in Food Processing Plants

  • a worker in a food processing plant
    Sponsored byLPS® DETEX®

    How a Beverage Facility Improved Food Safety and Compliance with Detectable Packaging Solutions

  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

Popular Stories

sunflower oil

Louisiana Passes ‘MAHA’ Bill Targeting More Than 40 Ingredients, Including Seed Oils, Dyes, Sweeteners

smoked salmon in oil

Study Shows Food Type Significantly Affects Listeria’s Ability to Survive Digestion, Cause Sickness

FSM podcast

Ep. 197. Jatin Patel: Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Handling a Recall

Events

July 15, 2025

Hygienic Design Risk Management: Industry Challenges and Global Insights

Live: July 15, 2025 at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn the importance of hygienic design to ensure food safety and sanitation effectiveness.

July 22, 2025

Beyond the Binder: Digital Management of Food Safety

Live: July 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn best practices for the use of digital food safety management systems across industry and regulatory agencies.

August 7, 2025

Achieve Active Managerial Control of Major Risk Factors Using a Food Safety Management System

Live: August 7, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn about changes to the FDA Food Code, which now includes a requirement for FSMS. 

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • A Spoor-Marler Team Plans Class Action for South African Listeria Victims

    See More
  • South African Poultry Plant Closes Amid Deadly Listeria Outbreak Investigation

    See More
  • Listeria Found at South Africa Chicken Plant; Class Action Lawsuit Filed

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1119237963.jpg

    Food Safety in China: Science, Technology, Management and Regulation

  • 9781138070912.jpg

    Trends in Food Safety and Protection

  • 1119053595.jpg

    Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain, 2E

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Certified Laboratories, a Certified Group Co.

    Certified Laboratories provides comprehensive laboratory testing and analysis throughout a North American network of 30+ ISO 17025 accredited labs. Our expertise extends across a full range of regulated industries, including beef, dairy, poultry, pet food, spices, seafood, nuts, produce, FDA imports, and ready-to-eat foods.
  • FSNS, a Certified Group Co.

    Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) provides comprehensive laboratory testing and analysis throughout a North American network of 30+ ISO 17025 accredited labs. Our expertise extends across a full range of regulated industries, including beef, dairy, poultry, pet food, spices, seafood, nuts, produce, FDA imports, and ready-to-eat foods.
  • Penn State University - World Campus

    Penn State World Campus is the second largest of The Pennsylvania State University campuses with more than 20,000 students. Penn State World Campus provides an accessible, quality Penn State education online to address the needs of individuals who seek a higher education beyond the traditional campus experience.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing