South African firm recalls contaminated apple juices from 7 countries

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – A South African company has recalled several consignments of its apple juices from seven African countries over health concerns.

The juices, sold by Pioneer Foods under the brand name Ceres, were found to have used a concentrate that had high levels of patulin, a mold toxin that causes nausea, gastrointestinal issues, and vomiting.

The countries where the contaminated juices were sold are Zimbabwe, Zambia, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Seychelles and Mauritius, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Competition Commission of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa(COMESA).

“If the products were already purchased, consumers are advised to return the products where they were purchased for a refund or replacement,” the authority said.

Earlier this week, South African chain store Woolworths also recalled some of its apple juice batches that were supplied by Pioneer Foods, saying “it was identified that the apple juice in these products contains levels of patulin above the regulatory limits.”

South Africa’s National Consumer Commission has announced that it is investigating a firm based in the Western Cape province as the possible source of the tainted juice concentrate supplied to the manufacturers.