Five products recently recalled consumers should know about

Consumers have faced a wave of product recalls in recent months, with authorities and retailers pulling food, infant products and medicines from shelves over safety concerns. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has confirmed a voluntary recall ofcertain ButtaNutt peanut butter productsafter higher than permitted levels of aflatoxin were detected. Aflatoxin is a toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The affected products were manufactured on January 15 and distributed in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape through retailers. Acting NCC commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu urged consumers to stop using the product immediately. “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,” said Ratshisusu. Nestlé expanded its recall ofcertain infant nutrition productsbeyond Europe to Africa, including South Africa, the Americas and Asia. The recall affects selected batches of SMA, Beba, Nan and Alfamino infant formulas due to possible contamination with cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting.

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No illnesses linked to the affected batches have been confirmed. At least 37 countries have issued health warnings related to the products. Brazil’s health ministry said the recall was a preventative measure after the toxin was detected in products originating in the Netherlands.

Nestlé said the recalled batches were manufactured in Switzerland and Europe and imported into several countries, including South Africa. According to a notice from the NCC, the Nan infant formula being recalled was produced in June 2025 and has a shelf life of about 18 months.

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