Woolworths hit by South African peanut butter recall

Retail group Woolworths has issued a recall for its Peanut Butter Dairy Ice Cream with immediate effect.

The group said that only the peanut butter ice cream is being recalled, and all other Woolworths products containing peanut butter – including its range of standa-alone peanut butter – remain 100% safe for consumption.

Woolworths peanut butter ice cream is the latest recall after the National Consumer Commission (NCC) issued a recall on various peanut butter brands earlier this month.

The brands in question were found to have higher than legally acceptable levels of Aflatoxin, as set out under R1145 Regulation Governing Tolerance of Fungus-Produced Toxins in Foodstuffs.

According to the Cancer Institute, Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi that are found on agricultural crops, including staples. Exposure to aflatoxins is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer, the group said.

The recalled products are:

• Dischem’s Lifestyle 400 grams Smooth and Crunchy;
• Dischem’s Lifestyle 800 grams Smooth and Crunchy;
• Wazoogles Superfoods (all sizes starting from 32g to 20kg);
• Pick n’ Pay’s No Name 1kg Smooth; and
• Eden All Natural
• New: Woolworths Peanut Butter Ice Cream

“Since the initial recalls were announced by others in the industry, Woolworths has systematically assessed all secondary products that contain peanut butter, such as biscuits, sauces, pretzels, energy bars and ice cream,” Woolworths said.

“This was done as a precautionary measure to ensure all our products meet our stringent quality standards.”

As a result of the process, it was found that Woolworths Peanut Butter Ice Cream contains aflatoxin levels that exceed the legal limit.

Woolworths said that the ice cream is being removed from shelves, and customers who have purchased the product can return it to their local store for a full refund.

Read: Why there’s a major peanut butter recall in South Africa