Pick 'n Pay confirms cyanide
2003-07-01 18:08
Lynn Bolin
Cape Town - The final blood tests of the Pick 'n Pay shopper who had eaten a sardine and who was hospitalised but later discharged after exhibiting no symptoms of poisoning, have been released, with the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirming that the tests have detected traces of cyanide.
The woman had shown no physical side effects and had returned home
on Sunday afternoon.
Commented Pick 'n Pay CEO Sean Summers: "We are both distressed and
extremely angry. It is not the point that the traces detected are at a low level and not sufficient to cause any side effects. The point is, the
product has been tampered with and contaminated. We are just enormously relieved that our customer, who is 79, is in good health."
Toxicology reports released to SAPS today showed the level of cyanide in
her blood to be above normal, but, according to toxicology experts, not
sufficient to harm her or result in any side effects.
"The reason we went public with the threats being levelled at us was
that despite assurances given to us by the extortionist that our customers would not be harmed, and despite the fact that he threatened us if we went public, we simply could not risk the safety of our customers. The results of the analysis prove that our decision to go public and withdraw the product was right."
Pick 'n Pay has withdrawn not only this particular product, but two
others as a precaution in Gauteng.
They have also stepped up security and surveillance in all its stores in Gauteng. The extortionist, to date, has focused his activities in two stores and across three products. Customers have been returning the three products steadily.
"The first three products were delivered in a package to our offices
when this first began, together with a threat that if we did not comply with his demands, he would put similar products on our shelves. We entered into a controlled dialogue with him. These three products, which were delivered directly to the company's offices, were tested and found to contain high levels of cyanide.
"The next contact we had, directed us to a specific product on an
identified shelf in our store in Boksburg. We immediately removed a marked
product from our shelves and sent it for analysis.
"The results were finalised this afternoon and were found to contain traces of cyanide, but according to the toxicology experts, not sufficient to be harmful.
"It would appear that the products he first sent to our offices had significantly higher levels of poison than those placed on our shelf. This may indicate that his intention was not to harm customers, also given that the tins were clearly marked "Poison contact Pick 'n Pay. He certainly wanted to scare both us and our customers.
"Despite a thorough shelf-by-shelf, product-by-product withdrawal at our
stores in Gauteng, we are again calling on all Pick 'n Pay customers please
to check any of the three products they may have bought very carefully for any sign of tampering. Better still, we would prefer that all customers in
Gauteng return the three products to us anywhere in Gauteng for a full refund."
The three products
120g No Name Brand Sardines (product of Portugal): barcode 600 1007 007
263 Pick 'n Pay's Choice Garlic Flakes Bottle: barcode 600 1007 096 441
Lucky Star Pilchards in Chilli 155g: barcode 501 082 1132 007.
Since the story first broke on Sunday evening, members of the public
have been calling into the group with information. Police have confirmed that all reasonable leads are being followed up.
Superintendent Dlamini of the SAPS said that Pick 'n Pay were continuing
to work very closely with the SAPS. "We are very appreciative of the way in
which the company has communicated with the South African public. If anyone has any information they would like to share with us in this matter, they are asked to contact CrimeStop on 0860 010111.
Said Summers: "We have really been overwhelmed by the sheer number of
calls, letters, e-mails and direct contact we have had from our customers,
suppliers, shareholders and ordinary members of the public, expressing their support. We will continue to keep everyone informed as things develop."
During the past 44 hours, the Pick 'n Pay Customer Careline (0800 112288) has received approximately 4 800 calls. About 10% of calls have been general queries about returning the three products. The balance have been calls of support and solidarity.
The recall of the three products is progressing well, Summers added. All
products being returned to Pick 'n Pay stores in Gauteng are being sent to a central warehouse and are being checked for any signs of tampering, with the full co-operation of suppliers, who are assisting in the checking process.
About 1 192 cans in total have been returned since 08:h00 on Monday morning.
Further details will be released as information becomes available. The
extortionist has not made contact with Pick 'n Pay since the group went
public with details of his threats.
- I-Net Bridge (Business)