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Tiger Brands Confirms Deadly Bacteria Strain Found in Samples

Tiger Brands Confirms Deadly Bacteria Strain Found in Samples

(Bloomberg) -- Tiger Brands Ltd. said it’s confirmed that the bacteria strain responsible for the world’s worst listeriosis outbreak was found in its products.

Results from independent laboratory retesting found the listeria ST6 strain, the company said in a statement Wednesday. The strain has been identified by South African authorities as responsible for the outbreak that’s killed 199 people since the start of 2017.

“We have been actively engaging with the Department of Health and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases on our findings and will continue to collaborate with them on the actions taken to date to actively address our findings,” the company said.

Tiger Brands’ Enterprise brand facilities in Polokwane, Pretoria and Germiston remain closed while remedial work continues.

To contact the reporter on this story: Liezel Hill in Johannesburg at lhill30@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Lynn Thomasson at lthomasson@bloomberg.net, Andre Janse van Vuuren, Gordon Bell

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