Panic in the peanut butter aisle: NCC recalls several more peanut butter brands

Acting Commissioner Thezi Mabuza of the National Consumer Commission (NCC) has urged South African consumers in possession of various peanut butter brands manufactured by House of Natural Butters to stop consuming the products and to return them to the point of purchase.

As per reports by BusinessTech, the NCC was informed by the major manufacturer that peanut butter from brands including Pick n Pay’s No Name brand, Eden All Natural brand, Wazoogles Superfoods and Dischem’s Lifestyle brand were found to contain “higher than legally acceptable” levels of Aflatoxin – a family of toxins produced by fungi found on crops.

Mabuza states that aflatoxin may lead to health complications not limited to nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

“We, therefore, urge South African consumers, who have the recalled products, to immediately stop consuming these products and return the products to the point of purchase for a full refund, with or without proof of purchase,” Mabuza said, as quoted by BusinessTech.

The list of recalled products is as follows:

Mabuza states that  Pick n Pay, Eden All Natural, and Dischem’s Lifestyle brands were distributed nationally, while Wazoogles Superfoods products were distributed mainly in the Western Cape.

He adds that the major manufacturer in question is being investigated by the NCC, and the commission will also conduct a nationwide assessment to determine whether or not other brands have been affected.

Mabuza ends by urging manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of peanut butter to comply with regulations and to conduct urgent tests to assess the safety of on-shelf products.

If found unsafe, the Acting Commissioner urges responsible parties to take “immediate corrective steps” to ensure food safety and to adhere to regulations outlined in the R1145 Regulation Governing Tolerance of Fungus-Produced Toxins in Foodstuffs.

“It is the responsibility of the manufacturers, importers, and retailers to ensure that goods comply with all applicable laws and standards of the Republic,” said Mabuza.

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