More products with peanut butter to be recalled

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NATIONAL NEWS & VIDEO - Following several suppliers who recalled various peanut butter products, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) calls on all manufacturers of peanut butter, peanut butter-based products and products with peanuts (including but not limited to chocolates, sweets, cookies, ice cream, and peanut butter spreads) to immediately test their products.

This is to determine whether their products meet the acceptable levels of aflatoxin, set out in Regulation 2(a) of Regulation 1145 of the Foodstuff, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act.

The latest suppliers to recall their products are Woolworths and Eat Naked.

Woolworths is recalling their 2 Lt Peanut Butter Dairy Ice cream with barcode: 6009211273436, while Eat Naked is recalling various products including their Peanut Butter Sachet, Peanut Butter Seeded, Dark Chocolate Peanut Cup, and Peanut Butter jar.

Both suppliers informed the Commission that their products were found to have higher than acceptable levels of aflatoxin.

The Acting National Consumer Commissioner, Ms. Thezi Mabuza says the Commission is concerned by this high rate of recalls. “To understand this challenge better, the Commission has issued a notice in terms of Section 60 (2) (a) of the CPA to manufacturers and suppliers of peanut butter.

The Notice requires suppliers to immediately conduct an urgent investigation, test their products for Aflatoxin, and present their results to the Commission within 14 days of receiving the Notice.

Suppliers are also required to submit their Hazzard Analysis Critical Control Point Certificates.

In addition to this, the NCC extends the same call to other suppliers of products with peanuts, to also investigate and submit their results to the NCC. Suppliers/ manufacturers must submit the results via email to Peanutbutter@thencc.org.za.

“While investigating their products, manufacturers, importers, and retailers are urged to take immediate corrective measures where their products are found to be unsafe. These include removing the products from the shelves following the NCC’s product recall protocols, informing relevant regulators in the space, as well as notifying consumers,” said Ms. Mabuza.

The risk of consuming products with higher than acceptable levels of aflatoxin may lead to health complications like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

South African consumers who have the recalled products to immediately stop consuming these products and return the products to a point of purchase for a full refund, with or without proof of purchase” she concluded.