By Staff Reporter
JOHANNESBURG-Durban resident Nombulelo Mkumla recently expressed her shock and disgust after discovering a rat inside a loaf of Sasko bread she had purchased from a local Spar store.
The alarming incident has ignited a wave of concern over food safety and hygiene standards within the South African food industry.
Mkumla recounted her disturbing discovery, initially refusing to believe it until confirming the presence of the rodent with others.
She swiftly reported the issue to Spar, which then directed her to Pioneer Foods, the company behind the Sasko brand.
While her initial complaint was met with suggestions that the issue might be mould-related, further investigation revealed the true nature of the contamination.
In response, Sasko issued an apology to Mkumla and launched an investigation into the incident. The company blamed high temperatures in their baking facilities for the contamination.
However, Mkumla rejected the explanation, calling it inadequate and vowing never to purchase Sasko products again.
Following the public outcry, Sasko released an official statement apologizing for the incident and reaffirming their commitment to food safety. The company emphasized that they take such complaints seriously and confirmed that they had initiated a thorough investigation of the production facility in question.
Despite not finding any signs of rodent infestation, Sasko temporarily suspended bread production at the affected facility as a precautionary measure.
“We sincerely apologize for the distress caused to Ms. Nombulelo Mkumla and our loyal consumers. Food safety is our top priority, and we are conducting a full investigation,” the statement read.
Sasko also urged concerned consumers to contact their helpline for any further issues or inquiries.
The incident has sparked calls for heightened quality control across the industry, with consumers demanding stricter regulations to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
