Health Alert: Another Peanut Butter Brand Recalled Over Aflatoxin Fears in South Africa

South African consumers are facing another food safety alert as a popular peanut butter brand is urgently pulled from shelves nationwide. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has confirmed the recall of ButtaNutt products after tests revealed dangerously high levels of aflatoxina toxic, cancer-causing substance produced by moulds that can grow on crops like peanuts.

This marks the second major peanut butter recall in two years, reigniting concerns about the safety of a household staple and the vigilance of local food producers.

The Immediate Risk: What is Aflatoxin?

Aflatoxin is a potent, naturally occurring toxin regulated under strict South African health laws (Regulation R.1145). According to the Cancer Institute, short-term exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, while long-term consumption is linked to severe health issues, including liver cancer. The NCC has urged consumers to “immediately stop consuming” the affected products and return them for a full refund.

Where Were the Products Sold?

The contaminated ButtaNutt products were distributed widely, appearing on shelves from major retail chains to local farm stalls. Stores affected include:

• Pick n Pay outlets in Scottburgh and The Pavilion (KZN)

• Several Spar stores (De Dekke, Sea Point, Stellenbosch SuperSpar, Sonstraal, Wilderness Village, Bedford)

• Jackson’s Real Food Market in Kyalami and Bryanston

• Irene Farm Shop, Cannon Rocks Holiday Resort, and Wilderness Village Market

The recall spans Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape.

A Recurring Problem: Echoes of the 2024 Recall

This is not an isolated incident. In March 2024, dairy giant Clover recalled its Go Nuts Peanut Butter, sparking a chain reaction that saw recalls from Dis-Chem, Wazoogles, Pick n Pay’s No Name brand, Eden All Natural, and even Woolworths Peanut Butter Ice Cream. That wave prompted the NCC to order industry-wide testing.

The recurrence with ButtaNutt suggests systemic challenges in the supply chain, potentially originating at the raw peanut supplier level. The NCC is now investigating the source of the contamination.

What Should Consumers Do?

1. Check your pantry for any ButtaNutt peanut butter.

2. Stop consuming it immediately.

3. Return the product to the point of purchase for a full refund, even without a receipt.

This latest recall is a stark reminder for consumers to stay alert to food safety notices and for the industry to enforce rigorous, ongoing testing. When a common, affordable protein source like peanut butter becomes a health lottery, it underscores a failure that goes beyond a single brandpointing to a need for stronger safeguards in our food system from farm to shelf.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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