South African firm recalls Apple juice brands over mold toxins

South African food and beverage manufacturer Pioneer Foods has recalled its Ceres Apple juice brands that were sold in Eastern and Southern Africa comesa countries with illegal commercial activities for Kenya and other Common Markets countries due to contamination of mold toxins.

The imported brands were noted to have elevated levels of patulin - a fruit-based mould, which when consumed can cause nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, and vomiting, according to the WHO Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Comesa Competition Commission on Wednesday said Pioneer Foods had informed it that the affected juice brands were imported and sold in several countries including Kenya.

In view of the foregoing. the Commission would like to inform the general public to exercise caution and prevent the purchase or consumption of the recalled products, said the regional trading bloc's competition watchdog in a statement.

If the above products were already purchased, consumers are advised to return the products where they were purchased for a refund or replacement. A spotcheck carried out by Business Daily on Wednesday afternoon showed the products were still retailing in several retail outlets within Nairobi.

Kenya Bureau of Standards Kebs has not publicly endorsed Recall.

The South African firm said separately its investigation confirmed that a limited quantity of fruit juice concentrate supplied to them contained elevated levels of patulin, a mould toxin found in rotting apples. 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 company said.

The World Health Organisation explains patulin, classified as a mycotoxin, is a naturally occurring toxin created by certain moulds that can be found in apples and apple products.

The risk of consuming patulin exceeding 50 g l may lead to vomiting, nausea and gastrointestinal symptoms.