South African food and beverage maker Pioneer Foods has recalled its Ceres apple juice brands sold in seven Comesa markets, including Kenya and Uganda, reportedly because of high Patulin levels. This comes a week after Pioneer Foods recalled its LiquiFruit apple juice brands sold in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, and Coca-Cola South Africa also recalled certain batches of Appletiser.
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 and in light of the current events, the general public to exercise caution and avoid the purchase or consumption of the recalled products and to return the products where they were purchased for a refund or replacement.”
The company 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.” According to the CEO of the company – Tertius Carstens, “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.”
The Recalled Products
According to The East African, 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. Please see specific details below:
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
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.