Popular peanut butter pulled from shelves over health risk
Several peanut butter products sold across South Africa have been recalled after tests found unsafe levels of a toxin linked to serious health risks.
Peanut butter sold in several provinces has been recalled after tests detected unsafe levels of a harmful toxin linked to serious health complications.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) stated that selected ButtaNutt peanut butter spreads were removed from shelves after higher-than-allowed levels of aflatoxin were detected.
The commission said it received a recall notification from the manufacturer yesterday.
Last year, the National Consumer Tribunal (NCT) imposed a R500 000 administrative fine on House of Natural Butters for supplying impure and unsafe food to the South African market.
This week’s recall
The affected products were manufactured on January 15, 2026, and were sold in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape through various retailers, reports The Witness.
Affected peanut butters
The NCC said the products failed to meet quality standards set out under the Department of Health’s Regulation R.1145, which governs tolerance levels of fungus-produced toxins in food.
“Aflatoxin may lead to health complications, including nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain,” the commission said.
Aflatoxins are highly toxic compounds produced by certain fungi and are commonly found in crops such as maize, peanuts and tree nuts, particularly in warm and humid conditions. Long-term exposure has been linked to liver damage and cancer.
Consumers have been urged to stop eating the affected products immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
NCC acting commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu said the commission is engaging the supplier to determine the extent of the contamination.
“This includes whether the source may be linked to the supplier of the raw nuts,” Ratshisusu said.
The commission said it is monitoring the recall in line with the Consumer Protection Act.
2024 peanut butter recall
Caxton Network News reported in June that the NCT said in a media statement that a settlement agreement was entered into between the NCC and House of Natural Butters (Pty) Ltd, trading as Eden All Butters.
This stemmed from a massive peanut butter recall in February 2024, when the NCC received recall notifications from Dis-Chem and Pick n Pay due to elevated aflatoxin levels in certain peanut butter.
When engaging with the retailers, the NCC discovered that both had ordered their products from House of Natural Butters. The NCC then consulted with the manufacturer to understand their processes. The manufacturer informed the NCC that it also produced items for other suppliers. House of Natural Butters subsequently recalled all affected products through a series of product safety recalls, from February 2, 2024.
The investigation revealed that between May 11, 2023, and November 6, 2023, House of Natural Butters imported and supplied contaminated, decayed and impure peanuts, groundnuts and byproducts to South African consumers through various retailers.
The investigation concluded that the supplier’s conduct was in contravention of regulation 3 of Regulation 638 of 20181 and regulation 2(b) of Regulation 1145 of 2004, read with section 2(1)(b)(i) of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 1972, read with section 55(2)(b) and (d) of the CPA.
The NCT noted that ‘the respondent imported the products from Malawi and Zambia using trucks and trailers, via land borders and port entries. The trucks and trailers did not have the requisite certificates of acceptability required for the transportation of food. Further laboratory test results from various accredited food testing laboratories established that the products were contaminated, decayed and impure’.
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Read original story on witness.co.za
