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Listeriosis outbreak leaves farmers at a loss

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Pig farmers have suffered a huge blow in the wake of the Listeriosis outbreak. The price of pork has plummeted by a massive 40%.

Demand is down as many consumers steer clear of processed meats.

Processed meat products contain up 50% of pork.  The country has 125 commercial and 400 upcoming pig farmers.

If demand continues to drop, jobs could be lost.

Consumers are playing it safe fearing the deadly listeriosis bacteria could be lurking in their favourite snack.

A consumer says, “I don’t eat polony and viennas, for now.”

“They cannot detect an illness without there having been an illness, from the brand itself. But if not from the brand, then it should have to do with packaging of the brand and some sort of bacteria,” says another consumer.

Another consumer adds, “These days I check even when it was produced, and when it expires.”

The industry is affected across the supply chain. This Abattoir owner explains the decrease in demand, from just one butcher.

Owner Tienie Swanepoel says, “We supplied approximately 1 400kg per week, it came down after the announcement, to 700kg per week.”

Unlike cattle and sheep farmers that can hold animals back, pigs can’t be kept beyond 22 weeks of age.

Farmers have no choice, but to send them to an abattoir and settle for current low prices.

Commercial pig farmer Willem Dechavonnes Vrucht says, “There is a risk of bore taint if animals are sold older than 22 weeks. And we don’t want to expose the consumer to that.”

Pig farmers are still recovering from financial losses incurred during the recent drought.

The price of maize – the main ingredient of pig feed went through the roof.

The processing sector has already shed jobs. More are at stake.

Vrucht says, “The guys won’t be able to expand, so you won’t find new equipment being bought. And guys moving over to cheaper feed and if the guys decide to decrease production, you’ll find job losses in the production of feed as well. So processing, if the demand stays low, then you’ll find some job losses in the processing side.”

The Pork Producers Association’s appealed to government to reinforce its message to consumers that not all processed meats have been contaminated with listeriosis.

It’s also called for an independent food safety monitoring body.

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