CAPE TOWN - Noodle supplier Grandisnyc cc may face an administrative fine of 10% of its total annual turnover, or R1 million – whichever is the greater.
This comes as the National Consumer Commission (NCC) on Friday announced it would initiate a probe into the company’s conduct, after five children died after consuming its Howe-branded two-minute noodles.
The NCC said it would probe Grandisync cc, based in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, to determine any negligence.
Three children in the Eastern Cape and two siblings from Mpumalanga died last month, after allegedly consuming the noodles.
Thezi Mabuza, the acting National Consumer Commissioner, said based on information from other regulators and the supplier itself, they had reasonable grounds to believe the company had supplied unsafe goods that posed a potential risk to the public.
“Consumer safety is at the heart of the Consumer Protection Act.
“Should our investigation reveal that Grandisnyc cc had indeed contravened the provisions of the act, we will refer the matter to the National Consumer Tribunal for the imposition of an administrative fine of 10% of their total annual turnover or R1 million... whichever is the greater.
“As regulators in the food-safety environment, we will get to the bottom of this matter to ensure that those liable are held accountable.
“Suppliers are obliged to protect consumers.
“When there are potential hazards they’re required to inform the relevant regulators and consumers,” Mabuza said.
The deaths sparked an urgent investigation by the departments of health in Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng to determine the extent and causes of possible food poisoning.
Health practitioners in all the affected provinces and the relevant municipalities ensured that the remainder of the food products were collected from the affected households, and sent for testing.
Cape Times