RCL FOODS LIMITED - Statement from RCL Foods relating to the outbreak of listeriosis

Statement from RCL Foods relating to the outbreak of listeriosis

RCL FOODS LIMITED
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1966/004972/06)
ISIN: ZAE000179438
Share Code: RCL
(“RCL FOODS” or “the Company”)

STATEMENT FROM RCL FOODS RELATING TO THE OUTBREAK OF LISTERIOSIS
Stakeholders are referred to the media statement issued by the Minister of
Health on 4 March 2018, relating to the recent outbreak of listeriosis in South
Africa. In the media statement the Minister announced that it was concluded
that the source of the current listeriosis outbreak was polony from a production
facility in Polokwane, which is not owned by the Company.

The Minister further announced that an investigation of RCL FOODS’ Wolwehoek
production facility is also underway, where polony products have tested positive
for L. monocytogenes, although the sequence types of the isolates are NOT
ST6(being the sequence type of listeriosis that has driven the current
outbreak). The National Consumer Commission has, however, issued precautionary
safety recall notices for polony products from both of these facilities.
RCL FOODS’ Board and management remain deeply concerned about this tragic
outbreak, and its effect on many South Africans. It is being treated as a crisis
internally, and a senior team is in contact with all relevant stakeholders to
discuss the significant impacts of this issue.

RCL FOODS can confirm that its Wolwehoek processing plant has taken the pre-
cautionary measure to suspend all production of RCL FOODS’ Rainbow Polony
brand. Additionally, it is in the process of recalling all Rainbow Polony
products from its entire customer base. This is despite the fact that the
results from testing of its environmental samples are still pending. In line
with the Department of Health’s (DoH) announcement, it must be highlighted that
the specific strain of pathogen responsible for the outbreak has not been linked
to the Wolwehoek facility. RCL FOODS is continuing its detailed discussions and
is working closely with representatives from the DoH, the Department of
Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries (DAFF), and the National Institute of
Communicable Diseases (NICD). RCL FOODS is sharing all results from its testing,
both internally and externally, with the relevant authorities.

In line with RCL FOODS’ strict food safety protocol, we have rigorous food
safety procedures in place which include our own regular product and
environmental testing, and these have been further strengthened as a
precautionary measure in recent months. Rigid controls remain in place to
mitigate any food safety risks, including microbiological risks, at all of our
food production facilities. We will continue to take every precaution to
safeguard our products as well as our consumers.

All RCL FOODS facilities are FSSC (Food Safety System Certification) 22000 or
ISO 22000 compliant. As part of RCL FOODS’ Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
the company follows strict procedures for pathogen management. These include
but are not limited to:

   -   Hazard identification and Risk Assessments;
   -   Raw material management (SQA, Microbiological verification);
   -   Cleaning procedures;
   -   Procedures to prevent cross contamination; and
   -   Scheduled testing of products and processing environments.

Additional announcements will be made in due course.

Stakeholders should note that it has been stated on social media commentary
that Enterprise forms part of RCL FOODS. RCL FOODS is not the owner of Enterprise
and does not manufacture any of its products.

Durban
5 March 2018

Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

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