Sasko suspends production after rodent found baked into loaf of bread

Production at a Sasko plant has been suspended after a rodent, reported to be a rat, was found in a loaf of bread purchased by a KwaZulu-Natal shopper.

As reported by The South African website, Nombulelo Mkumla posted a video on social media of the incident. 

Sasko came under fire

Sasko – which falls under Pioneer Foods – came under fire over the clip, which has gone viral on social media.

In her Facebook post, Mkumla stated that she returned the bread to the store where she purchased it, received a full refund, and was instructed to file a complaint with the supplier.

After contacting the supplier, she said she received a phone call from a person who assured her that eating the bread with the rat would not harm her health.

She described the experience as ‘traumatic and unpleasant’.

Investigation under way

It remains unclear how the rat came to be found within the loaf of Sasko Low GI Seeded Whole Wheat brown bread.

Sasko told Eyewitness News that after learning about Mkumla’s incident, an investigation was promptly begun, with third-party service providers contacted.

Despite this being ‘an extreme and isolated, yet extremely regrettable situation,’ Sasko said it would cease bread manufacturing at the factory in issue until investigations were completed.

‘We were shocked and devastated when a KZN consumer, informed us that she found a rodent in her loaf of Sasko bread. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or discomfort that this incident caused Ms Nombulelo Mkumla as well as any of our other loyal consumers,’ Sasko said in a statement.