Forensic investigator, Paul O’Sullivan, has called on for the entire Tiger Brands board of directors to step down. This comes at the time South Africa faces the largest Listeriosis outbreak in history.
The bacterial infection has claimed 180 lives and 750 cases in the country. Victims and families are calling for those responsible to be held liable.
Human Rights Lawyer, Richard Spoor and a United States food safety firm have filed a class action lawsuit against Tiger Brands.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the families of the people affected. The victims died after eating contaminated processed meat that was produced and distributed by Tiger Brands and Rainbow Chicken.
O’Sullivan has also entered the fray.
With the source of the outbreak tied to two brands of polony by Tiger Brands, Enterprise Foods and Rainbow Chicken, O’Sullivan says the company should be held liable.
His company Forensics for Justice is expected to open 180 criminal dockets of murder and 479 cases of attempted murder against the companies.
O’Sullivan says:”We are saying that if it was one or two people who passed away its tragic but when we have hundreds of people passing away and poisoned its completely unacceptable and its similar to criminal offences being committed.”
“Culpability in South Africa comes down to the intention of the person. We are not saying that Tiger Brands intentionally murdered people ,we are saying that culpability comes from negligence and that they failed to follow procedures and one of the areas we will be looking at.”
