Rwanda lifts ban imposed after 2017 South African Listeria outbreak

Food Safety News reported the development on 2025-11-21. Rwanda has lifted a ban on some South African food products that was put in place in 2017 because of a Listeria outbreak that sickened more than 1,000.

The report places the news in a wider commercial context. The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources said the sanctions had the aim of safeguarding public health from Listeria monocytogenes. A notice suspending the import of meat, dairy and milk products, fruits and vegetables from South Africa was issued in December 2017.

For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. The listeriosis outbreak began in 2017 and was declared over in September 2018, with 1,065 confirmed cases and at least 218 deaths. People became infected after eating a contaminated ready-to-eat meat product called polony, made at a factory in Polokwane by Enterprise Foods. Polony is similar to bologna.

Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. At least 12 countries recalled the implicated processed meat products and banned imports, while three nations also suspended imports of other food products. Class action situationThe Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources said the ban was removed after thorough verification and confirmation by relevant authorities of the listeriosis situation in South Africa.