THERE are fears that some shops and homes in the country
have poisoned pilchards following a recall of a batch of the brand from a
processing plant in South Africa due to a canning deficiency.
A number of Zimbabweans buy their groceries in South Africa
and some receive parcels from relatives based in the neighbouring country. Business people also buy their wares,
including food items, from South Africa for resale in the country.
South Africa’s West Point Processors, which supplies the
fish, announced the recall on Saturday, citing a “canning deficiency” that may
make the product “unfit for human consumption”.
“Because consumer safety is our top priority, we wish to
recall some Pilchards in Tomato Sauce products,” the company said in a
statement quoted in the South African press.
“The recall is only related to the 400g Pilchards in Tomato
Sauce products which have the specific batch codes starting with ZST2 and ZSC2.
There is a small possibility that some tins may have a canning deficiency which
could make the product unfit for consumption. We are working to identify the
issue and ensure that our product meets the high standard our consumers rightly
expect from us.”
In an interview yesterday, Industry and Commerce Ministry
Deputy Minister Cde Raj Modi urged people to be on the lookout for the
condemned batch of fish.
He said people must not be tempted to eat it as it was
unsafe.Cde Modi also urged retailers to remove the condemned product
from their shelves.
He said businesspeople who may have bought large
consignments of the condemned fish can approach his ministry so that he can
engage South African authorities for the Zimbabwean businesspeople to be
compensated.
“I advise our wholesalers and retailers in this country to
check on the brands they have. If it is any of the brands mentioned in the
report and of the affected batch, may they kindly remove them from the shelves.
I also call upon border authorities at our ports of entry to ensure that this
condemned batch does not find its way into the country. Consumers must report
to authorities anyone found selling this product after this warning,” said the
Deputy minister.
Tinned foods including various South African brands of
pilchards are widely sold in the city, especially in shops that demand cash
payments only.
In an interview yesterday, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe
regional manager Mr Comfort Muchekeza said it was highly likely that some
Zimbabwean households and retailers have the condemned product.
“The fact that the consignment is being recalled is a sure
indication that they are not fit for human consumption. Consumers should be
wary of them. There are so many effects
on the human body in particular and health-wise in general caused by consuming
food not fit for human consumption.
Those in the medical field will better know what real effect these
particular fish will cause on the human body but as consumers what they need to
do even before they fully understand what effects are likely to be caused by
consuming them is not to consume them then seek medical advice in case they
have already consumed the fish. If need be, get legal advice and assistance in
case there is need for redress,” he said.
National Consumer Rights Association coordinator Mr Effie
Ncube urged consumers to comply with the recall as it was meant to protect them
from potential harm.
“Whenever suppliers recall goods that they sold to
consumers, it is important that consumers abide by that recall. That is the
case throughout the world because the supplier will be having specific reasons
why they are recalling those goods. It may be that they are containing some
harmful chemicals or they are defective in one way or the other,” said Mr
Ncube.
Shops and supermarkets in the CBD visited by the Chronicle
had pilchards’ brands but not the condemned batch code ZST2 and ZSC2.
However, some consumers in Bulawayo who spoke to Chronicle
said they had large quantities of tinned fish in their homes that they had
bought for “groceries club” to be shared in June and December.
“We buy our groceries in bulk and tinned foods are some of
the products we buy early on in the year as they have a long shelf life. We are
yet to check all our stuff but it is really worrying. If they are part of the
recalled stuff, we would have lost a lot,” said Mrs Sibonelo Dube of Pumula
East suburb.
On Tuesday, Botswana’s government issued a statement
warning its citizens to be on the lookout for the condemned fish.
“The Ministry of
Health and Wellness is in receipt of a communication from the National
regulator for compulsory specifications, South Africa, with regards to recall
above mentioned products. All pilchard products with the batch code ZST29 and
ZSC29 on top of the can are subject to recall. The cause of the recall is due
to a deficiency in the canning process. The ministry has advised consumers not
to eat the affected products as they are unfit for human consumption and return
the affected pilchards products to respective shops for a full refund,” read
the statement from the health ministry in Botswana. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment