South African food and beverage maker Pioneer Foods has recalled its Ceres apple juice brands sold in seven Comesa markets, including Kenya and Uganda.
The recalled brands were found to contain high levels of patulin, a fruit-based mould toxin that causes nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Competition Commission said Pioneer Food informed it that the affected juice brands were on sale in Kenya, Uganda, Seychelles, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“In view of the foregoing… the Commission would like to inform the general public to exercise caution and avoid the purchase or consumption of the recalled products,” said the regional trading bloc’s competition watchdog in a statement on Wednesday.
Further, consumers have been advised to “return the products where they were purchased for a refund or replacement.”
The Ceres apple juice recall comes barely a week after Pioneer Foods recalled its LiquiFruit apple juice brands sold in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
The South African firm said its investigation had confirmed that “a limited quantity of apple juice concentrate supplied to them contained elevated levels of patulin, a mould toxin mainly found in rotting apples.”
“The recall is based on the presence of patulin in a concentration of more than 50 parts per billion (ppb), which is the regulatory threshold,” said CEO Tertius Carstens.
Products
The recalled products are Ceres apple juice 200ml and Ceres apple 275ml sparkling glass on sale in DRC, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Others are Ceres apple juice one-litre selling in Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Mauritius, and Zambia; and Ceres apple juice 200ml being sold in Seychelles.
Ceres Apple 4x6x200ml
Single unit barcode: 6001240200018
Date coding: PD 14.06.2021 / BB 14.06.2022
PD 21.06.2021 / BB 21.06.2022
PD 22.06.2021 / BB 22.06.2022
Ceres Apple Sparkling 275 ml glass
Single unit barcode: 6001240222676
Date coding: PD 14.06.2021 / BB 14.06.2022
PD 15.06.2021 / BB 15.06.2022
Ceres Apple 12×1 litre
Single unit barcode: 6001240100011
Date coding: PD 17.06.2021 / BB 17.06.2022
PD 18.06.2021 / BB 18.06.2022
PD 21.06.2021 / BB 21.06.2022
PD 22.06.2021 / BB 22.06.2022
Liquid fruit
Other recalled products are LiquiFruit Clear Apple 250ml carton, the LiquiFruit Clear Apple 330ml can and the LiquiFruit Clear Apple one-litre carton.
The World Health Organisation states patulin, which is classified as a mycotoxin, is a naturally occurring toxin created by certain moulds found in apples and apple products.
The risk of consuming patulin exceeding 50ppb may lead to vomiting, nausea and gastrointestinal symptoms.
The Pioneer Foods product recall comes a week after Coca-Cola South Africa also recalled certain batches of Appletiser, reportedly due to high patulin levels.
By The East African
