In a significant move, Tiger Brands, South Africa’s largest food producer, has announced that it will provide settlement offers to families impacted by the devastating listeriosis outbreak that occurred in 2017.
This deadly outbreak led to the loss of over 200 lives and caused more than 800 people to fall ill, making it one of the country’s most severe foodborne disease incidents.
Settlement Offers Extended to Victims
The company revealed on Monday that it is offering compensation to individuals who suffered damages as a result of contracting listeriosis from its products.
The outbreak, which originated from contaminated processed foods, led to a massive public health crisis.
A class action lawsuit was filed against Tiger Brands, representing over a thousand victims, after investigations traced the source of the contamination to the company’s processing plant in Polokwane.
Tiger Brands confirmed that its lead insurer, QBE Insurance Group Limited, made the first round of settlement offers on April 25 to a specific group of claimants who suffered from the illness.
The settlement follows previous efforts, such as the interim relief provided in February 2025, where the company offered advance payments to individuals with urgent medical needs.
Tjaart Kruger, the CEO of Tiger Brands, expressed that this announcement marks an important step forward in addressing the consequences of the outbreak.
He emphasized that the company is committed to providing financial relief to those affected and ensuring that the settlement process is carried out fairly.
Department of Health Applauds the Settlement
The South African Department of Health has praised Tiger Brands’ decision to settle the class action lawsuit, acknowledging that it provides much-needed closure to the families who lost loved ones to the outbreak.
According to the spokesperson for the Department of Health, Foster Mohale, the government welcomes the company’s commitment to compensate the victims and encourages anyone with evidence linking the outbreak to the death of their family members to come forward.
Mohale explained that by doing so, the department can access the necessary clinical records to determine whether the claims are valid and eligible for settlement.
He also took the opportunity to stress the importance of adhering to strict food safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The outbreak underscored the critical need for rigorous food safety practices, especially in the processing and handling of ready-to-eat foods.
These practices are essential not only to protect public health but also to reduce food waste and avoid costly product recalls,” he said.
The Ongoing Importance of Food Safety
The case has raised important questions about the responsibility of companies to uphold food safety standards.
The listeriosis outbreak highlighted how lapses in food safety can have devastating consequences for public health.
It serves as a reminder to both companies and consumers about the importance of ensuring that food products meet the highest hygiene and safety standards to prevent future outbreaks.
As Tiger Brands moves forward with its compensation plan, the public and government agencies alike are keeping a close eye on the process, with many hoping that the settlement will bring justice and closure to those affected by the outbreak.