The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued an urgent alert to South African pet owners, including those in Alberton.

This follows a recall of several popular dog and cat food brands manufactured by RCL Foods.

The recall affects specific batches of Bobtail, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Optimizor, Ultra Pet, and Superwoof.

According to the NCC, 55 352 bags of pet food produced between May 26-29, June 4-5, and June 17, 2025, have been flagged.

These were distributed nationwide, including retailers and vets frequented by Alberton residents.

RCL Foods reported that certain batches of maize used in production contained elevated levels of Deoxynivalenol (DON), a naturally occurring mycotoxin commonly found in grains. Maize is a standard ingredient in dry pet food. The DON levels in the affected products exceeded 1000 ppb (1ppm).

Pets that consume the contaminated food may experience:

• Loss of appetite.

• Digestive discomfort.

• General lethargy or unusual behaviour after meals.

Exposure to DON is not fatal. However, prolonged exposure could worsen symptoms.

The NCC urged residents to stop feeding their pets any potentially affected products, especially if the products were recently purchased from major or local independent pet retailers in the Alberton area.

They advised residents to check packaging for production dates matching the affected periods.

Customers can return any affected bags to the point of purchase and claim a full refund, even without proof of purchase.

The NCC has confirmed it will oversee the recall process to ensure RCL Foods complies fully with the Consumer Protection Act.

Residents who suspect their pets are getting sick because of the recalled food should consult their local vet.