Health Alert: ButtaNutt peanut butter recalled due to aflatoxin contamination

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) confirmed it has received a product recall from peanut butter manufacturer, ButtaNutt (Pty) Ltd. 

The recall is a result of higher-than-legally-acceptable levels of aflatoxin detected in the product. 

Aflatoxin is a class of toxic compounds produced by certain moulds found in food, which can cause liver damage and cancer.

The NCC spokesperson, Phetho Ntaba, said the affected products failed to meet the quality standards as set out under the Department of Health’s Regulation R.1145 Governing Tolerance of Fungus-Produced Toxins in Foodstuffs.

“Aflatoxin may lead to health complications, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain,” Ntaba said. 

The affected products were manufactured on January 15, 2026, and distributed as follows: 

“These products were sold in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape through various retailers,” Ntaba said. 

The retailers are: 

• De Dekke Trading (Pty) Ltd t/a De Dekke Spar
• Jackson's Real Food Market – Kyalami
• Sea Point Spar
• Cannon Rocks Holiday Resort CC
• Helshoogte Foods CC T/A Stellenbosch SuperSpar
• Irene Townships (PTY) Ltd t/a Irene Farm Shop
• Jacksons Real Food Market – Bryanston
• Pick'n Pay Retailers (Pty) Ltd - Scottburgh (KZN)
• Pick'n Pay Retailers (Pty) Ltd - The Pavilion (KZN)
• Tait Supamarket t/a Bedford Spar
• The Spar Group Ltd T/A Sonstraal Spar
• Wilderness Village Market (Pty) Ltd T/A Spar Wilderness Village

The NCC Acting Commissioner, Mr Hardin Ratshisusu, said: “Consumers should immediately stop consuming the affected products and return them to the point of purchase for a full refund. The NCC is engaging the supplier on the extent of the contamination, including potentially from the raw nuts’ supplier.” 

The NCC said it is monitoring this recall in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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