BM Foods faces R1m fine as NCC cracks down on Listeria breach in hummus range

 Food safety standards are back in the spotlight as the National Consumer Commission (NCC) takes a hard line against BM Foods Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd. The commission has officially referred the manufacturer to the National Consumer Tribunal following the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in its ready-to-eat hummus products.

The legal move follows the high-profile September 2024 recall of the Deli Hummus range at Shoprite Checkers, where laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the hazardous bacterium. With a potential R1 million fine looming, this case serves as a stark reminder of the rigorous safety protocols required under South African law. For the broader industry, it reinforces a critical reality: under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), everyone from the producer to the retailer shares the burden of ensuring that what ends up on a consumer's plate is safe.

The NCC’s investigation found that the presence of Listeria indicated that BM Foods had supplied goods that were unsafe for consumption, potentially contravening multiple provisions of the CPA as well as hygiene regulations under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act.

Acting commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu emphasised the broader implications for the sector, stating that suppliers of food products are obligated to ensure safety and that violations must be addressed through regulatory enforcement.

For retail businesses, the incident reinforces the importance of stringent supplier vetting, regular product testing and adherence to food safety protocols.

Written by: Shihaam (Gabriella) Steyn - Adams.

Guzzle Media