Tiger Brands in partnership with Stellenbosh University has launched the first Centre for Food Safety in the country.
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Tiger Brands Mary-Jane Morifi says the centre was born out of the recent listeria outbreak.
The listeriosis outbreak was the most deadly in SA and claimed more than 200 lives earlier this year.
The company felt that a company of its size to find itself in a situation where listeria was found on our site; clearly, something needed to be done.
— Mary-Jane Morifi, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Tiger Brands
READ: Listeria outbreak is officially over - Motsoaledi
What we are proposing and putting forward is this holistic look that involves all of the stakeholders to ensure that there is academic research that influences policy and educates and creates awareness among citizens.
— Mary-Jane Morifi, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Tiger Brands
Morifi says the outbreak highlighted that the food standards and food systems needed to be refined.
ALSO READ: 3 signs that you could be infected with Listeriosis
We at Tiger Brands complied with all the food standards and processes but we found ourselves in that situation. Clearly, something neede to be done differently.
— Mary-Jane Morifi, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Tiger Brands
Listen to how the centre will work...