Pet food recall in South Africa: These dog and cat brands flagged as unsafe

For many South Africans, feeding the dog or cat is part of the daily routine that rarely raises concern. You scoop the pellets, fill the bowl, and move on with the day.

But a recent nationwide warning has reminded pet owners just how important it is to check what is inside those bags.

The National Consumer Commission has issued a public alert after several batches of dry dog and cat food sold across South Africa were flagged as unsafe after tests found elevated levels of a mould toxin called deoxynivalenol (DON). The recall affects multiple popular brands manufactured by RCL Foods and distributed through major retailers, including Checkers and Makro.

For households with pets, it is a warning worth taking seriously.

Why these pet foods were recalled

According to the commission, the recall was triggered after elevated levels of a mould toxin called deoxynivalenol, often shortened to DON, were detected in certain batches of dry pet food.

Deoxynivalenol is a naturally occurring toxin produced by mould that can grow on grains such as maize. When present at high levels in pet food, it may cause pets to lose their appetite or experience digestive upset.

Because of this potential health risk, authorities have advised consumers to treat the affected products as unsafe.

Which brands are affected

The recall covers eight well-known brands of dry pet food produced by RCL Foods. These include Bobtail, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Optimizor, Ultra Pet, Feline Cuisine, Bonzo, and Optiwoof.

Altogether, the affected batches represent more than 115 000 bags of pet food in a wide range of sizes. Some products are small household bags of about 1.5kg, while others include larger breeder or bulk bags of up to 40kg.

The products were distributed nationally and sold through several major retail outlets.

Pet owners are advised to check the packaging carefully, particularly the best-before dates printed on the bags. Several batches across different flavours and pack sizes fall under the recall.

Affected pet food batches

The following products and best-before dates have been included in the recall.

What pet owners should do

The advice from consumer authorities is simple.

If you have one of the affected products at home, stop using it immediately.

Customers can return the product to the retailer where it was purchased. Stores should provide either a refund or a replacement product.

The National Consumer Commission says it is monitoring the situation closely to ensure the recall process is carried out properly and that consumers are protected.

A reminder for pet safety at home

The news has sparked concern among pet owners across social media, with many people sharing photos of bags from their cupboards while checking the listed batch dates.

For South Africans who treat their pets like family members, it is a worrying development. Dogs and cats rely entirely on their owners for safe food, which makes recalls like this particularly sensitive.

Veterinary experts often remind owners that sudden illness in pets can sometimes be linked to contaminated food. That is why recalls are treated seriously by both regulators and manufacturers.

While incidents like this are relatively rare, they highlight the importance of paying attention to product notices and safety alerts.

Another recall affecting parents

The warning from the commission also comes at a time when several other consumer safety recalls have been issued in South Africa.

In a separate alert, Nutricia Southern Africa removed certain batches of Aptamil Nutribiotik 2 and Aptajunior Nutribiotik 3 infant formula from shelves after concerns that a raw material used in production may contain traces of cereulide.

At high exposure levels, cereulide can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.

Parents who purchased the affected formula are advised to contact Nutricia directly through the company’s careline or official website for guidance.

Earlier this year, Nestlé also recalled several infant formula products after contamination concerns linked to toxin exposure.

For both parents and pet owners, the message from consumer authorities remains the same. Always check batch information on food products and stay alert to recall notices.

Because sometimes, the smallest details on a label can make the biggest difference.

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Source: The Citizen

Featured Image: Shameless Pets