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*This article has been updated.
Premier Foods has launched a full investigation after a customer found three packets of tik and one "bankie" of dagga hidden in a loaf of Blue Ribbon Bread.
Purchased from an informal shop
Premier Foods confirmed to Health24 on Wednesday that the drugs were handed over to the police at Strandfontein police station.
Read: The most abused over-the-counter drug in SA
“We are deeply concerned that a packet of Blue Ribbon Bread has been used to hide these drugs and that a member of the public had to experience such distress as a result," said Premier Group Marketing Executive Siobhan O’Sullivan in an emailed response to Health24.
"Premier is working with the police to do everything possible to ensure those responsible are caught and brought to justice.”
Chairperson of Strandfontein Community Police Forum (CPF) Sandy Schuter initially said she was aware of the matter, however, later could not confirm that a case had been reported, opened or is being investigated.
"I've asked at the station and no one knows of this," she told Health24 in an emailed response on Thursday.
The consumer made the purchase from an informal shop in Cape Town over the weekend and was shocked at what was found when making a sandwich for her children.
Here is the image posted on Facebook with the caption:
"Absolutely outraged!!!!! Bought a bread last night, today kids wanted toast an I find drugs halfway into bread. ... my kids could have found it!!!"
Premier operates 16 bakeries, two maize mills, a sugar confectionary plant and 24 distribution depots.
Premier foods Corporate Communications Officer Nodumo Novuka told Health24 that the bread manufacturer does not distribute bread to the informal shop where the loaf of bread was purchased.
"We can confirm we do not deliver directly to the store in question involved in this case," she said
"We have a fleet of vehicles that deliver to formal trade stores as well as informal trade stores in and around Cape Town."
Novuka added that there are also agents who buy bread directly from the bakery who then re-sell it to their own customers.
Update: It was initially confirmed that a case had been reported and is being investigated, however, after much confusion CPF's Sandy Schuter said that Stranfontein Police station was not familiar with this incident.
After speaking to Captain FC Van Wyk from SAPS Western Cape and WO Croutz who lives in Stranfontein, Health24 was informed that the matter is indeed being investigated.
"The incident occurred on (2015-06-14) and the matter is being investigated. No one has been arrested at this stage," said SAPS spokesperson of the Western Cape Constable Noloyiso Rwexana on Thursday.
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