MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE NATIONAL REGULATOR FOR COMPULSORY SPECIFICATIONS
The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications has ordered all formal Wholesalers, Retailers and informal Traders to remove and stop selling the 400g Pilchards in Tomato Sauce and 400g Pilchards in Chili Sauce with immediate effect. This follows the outcome of the investigation which the organisation conducted that revealed a deficiency in the canning process. Some of the cans were comprised during the sauce filling step on the production line therefore could affect the safety of consumers. The problem manifests itself after months of storage which cause the content of the can to react with the metal of the can. The affected products were manufactured in 2019 by West Point Processors based in Cape Town and have been distributed nationally to various retailers across the country.
Below are the details of the product brands affected and the NRCS wishes to implore all consumers to return the products to any shop where they were purchased for a refund:
DEEP CATCH; MAMMAS; OK HOUSEBRAND; PRIME OCEAN; SPAR; SUNNY; SHOPRITE RITEBRAND; CAPE POINT; CHECKERS HOUSEBRAND; U BRAND; SALDANHA; WEST POINT
The products further bear the markings starting with – ZST29 and ZSC29 on top of the can for easy identification. Food safety is a priority for NRCS and therefore the organisation is engaging all role players to ensure that the affected products are removed from the market to protect consumers against unsafe products in line with its mandate. The manufacturer has already started the recall and the NRCS will continue to monitor the process with all the other wholesalers and retailers including the informal market to ensure that the process is handled efficiently. The NRCS regulates the Manufacture, Production and treatment of canned fish and fishery products as part of the Compulsory Specifications (VC8014). All canned Fish and fishery products that are manufactured in the Republic of South Africa are inspected and released by NRCS for trade according to Regulatory protocols.
For technical queries, please speak to Meisie Katz on 0215263401 / 0844270467. For media related queries, please contact Mirriam Moswaane on 0124828826 /0833642007
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL REGULATOR FOR COMPULSORY SPECIFICATIONS (NRCS).
The ZF Mgcawu District Municipality’s Environmental Health Practitioners are embarking on a “Recall of canned pilchards campaign” as from 27 February 2020.
As highlighted in the media release the canned fish have a defect of the internal can integrity being affected by or during the in-line filling process. The hazard related to this defect is chemical which means that potential internal reaction of contents with metal casing of can causing migration of metal (tin) to contents (fish). Please note that the risk to human health is low, it will however increase due to lengthy storage of the product. Please do not hesitate to contact Environmental Health Services at the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality on 054 337 2800/ 054 337 2890 for any enquiries
