In a significant development in the long-running listeriosis class action, Tiger Brands has announced that its lead reinsurer, QBE Insurance Group Limited, has made a formal settlement offer to legal representatives of certain claimants affected by the 2017–2018 outbreak.

The offer, presented on 25 April 2025, is aimed at a subset of plaintiffs and forms part of a broader roadmap towards potentially resolving the class action in full.

The claimants identified in this phase of the process are those who contracted, or were directly affected by, the ST6 strain of Listeria monocytogenes — the specific genotype linked to the deadly outbreak traced back to Tiger Brands’ Enterprise Foods facility.

The settlement offer, made with Tiger Brands’ support and agreement, has been extended to three categories of claimants:

• Individuals who contracted listeriosis (or whose mothers did) caused by the ST6 strain;
• People who lost legal breadwinners due to the illness and were financially dependent on them;
• Caregivers of legal dependents who contracted the disease.

The company stated that the settlement includes an undertaking to pay proven or agreed compensatory damages under Section 61 of the Consumer Protection Act, but emphasized that the offer is made without admission of liability and is in full and final settlement of the listed claims.

To safeguard the privacy of those involved, the company confirmed that no details regarding individual offers or compensation amounts will be released publicly.

Tiger Brands CEO Tjaart Kruger welcomed the development, calling it a milestone in the ongoing litigation.

“Today’s announcement represents an important milestone and follows shortly on measures already taken in February 2025 to offer interim relief in the form of advance payments to identified claimants with urgent medical needs,” Kruger said.

“It also demonstrates our commitment to continue to work closely with our insurers and their appointed attorneys to explore a resolution of the entire class action.”

The settlement process now moves into its next phase, where the plaintiffs’ attorneys will communicate the offer to eligible claimants. Once individual claimants have accepted the offer, the process of quantifying their damages will begin. This is expected to take several weeks.

The listeriosis class action, certified by the South Gauteng High Court, is being conducted in two phases. The current phase focuses on determining Tiger Brands’ liability. If liability is established, the second phase will address causation and assess compensation for damages.

Tiger Brands reiterated that it has sufficient product liability insurance coverage in place and remains committed to resolving the matter in a just and timely manner.

The listeriosis outbreak, which was declared the world’s largest recorded outbreak of the disease, led to more than 1,000 confirmed cases and over 200 deaths. It prompted a major product recall and nationwide concern over food safety practices in the processed meat industry.

The National Health Department has welcomed this step by Tiger Brands, saying it will go a long way to ensure the affected families get closure. The Department has also urged anyone who believes they have a claim, to come forward.

The Department’s Foster Mohale says it also serves as a reminder of the importance of strict food safety practices.

“Food safety and hygiene practices remain crucial for public health, preventing foodborne illnesses, reducing food waste and avoiding costly food recalls.”