Tiger Brands recalls 20 million canned vegetable products

After its listeriosis shock 4 years ago, the company is making sure that its cans don’t leak

TIGER Brands, the company whose polony factories were responsible for the highest listeriosis outbreaks four years ago, yesterday recalled 20 million canned vegetable products due to “an extremely small number of defective cans” from a packaging supplier.

The recall was as a result of a weld defect that could lead to a leak and would likely be concluded in 120 days, the group said.

It also estimated that the impact would be up to R650 million, including the cost of the potentially affected stock that may be written off, transport and storage costs, and the loss of margin on the returned stock.

“Tiger Brands has product recall insurance for the logistics of recalling the products. The company’s claim under the contract with the third-party supplier is yet to be assessed.”

Tiger Brands said consumers could return canned vegetable products including baked beans manufactured between May 1, 2019, and May 5, 2021, under the Koo and Hugo brands to their nearest supermarkets for a refund.

“The cans may have a defective side seam weld that could cause the can to leak. The company identified the issue as part of its internal quality control assurance processes,” Tiger Brands said.

The company said no health issues had been reported to date relating to the affected product range.

“Although there is a low probability of illness and injury, matters of quality and food safety are an absolute priority for Tiger Brands. The company, in consultation with the National Consumer Council (NCC), therefore made the decision to initiate a precautionary withdrawal in the best interest of consumers,” said Tiger Brands.

Acting NCC Commissioner Thezi Mabuza said in terms of the Consumer Protection Act, consumers had a right to fair value, good quality and safety. “While the commission is pleased with Tiger Brands’ investigation into this problem and the precautionary recall, consumer safety comes first.

“Therefore, the commission will only rest when all these products are removed from the market and consumers get their refunds. Our inspectors are monitoring the recall based on the Recall Guidelines,” she said.

Tiger Brands said a leak in a can presented a risk of secondary microbial contamination after the canned products were dispatched into the marketplace. The group said where such contamination occurred, it would present a low probability of illness and injury if the contaminated product was consumed.

“Notwithstanding that only two side seam leaks had been detected as a result of the transport test, with consumer safety as an absolute priority, Tiger Brands considers it appropriate that it institutes an immediate recall of all products that could potentially be affected,” said Tiger Brands.

The company said the affected canned vegetable products manufactured amounted to 9 percent of annual production.

Portfolio manager at Vestact Asset Management, Michael Treherne, said that Tiger Brands would have insurance covering some of the costs.

“I do think Tiger will sue the supplier for breach of contract due to being supplied with inferior quality tins.

“Court cases will take ages to resolve and the supplier might not have the money to pay out either,” said Treherne. Consumers could identify the affected products by looking at the manufacturing date code stamped on the bottom or top of the can.

The manufacturing date on them appears in the first line following the letters MAN.

Polony produced by Tiger Brands Polokwane, Limpopo and Germiston factories was said to be responsible for 1 060 listeria cases with 216 deaths.