Earlier this month, it was announced that certain brands of peanut butter were being recalled – and affected customers were being urged to return the products to the respective stores for a full refund, with or without proof of purchase.
The reason for the recall is due to “unlawful levels of aflatoxins” being present in the affected peanut butter products.
So, what does this mean, and what are the potential side effects of consuming peanut butter with excessive levels of aflatoxin?
“Aflatoxins are amongst the most poisonous mycotoxins and are produced by certain molds which grow in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains,” according to the World Health Organisation.
News24 has reported the following: “Aflatoxin may lead to health complications that include, but are not limited to, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. According to the World Health Organisation, large doses of aflatoxins can lead to acute poisoning known as aflatoxicosis, and can be life-threatening, typically due to liver damage. There is evidence that they can contribute to cancer in humans, and Aflatoxin can also damage DNA, according to the WHO’s website.”
The affected peanut butter includes the following brands:
- 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.
The National Consumer Commission is investigating the manufacturer of these products – House of Natural Butters (Pty) Ltd, and the Commission will also carry out a countrywide assessment to determine if any other peanut butter brands are affected.
EWN reported that the following brands are safe to consume:
- Black Cat peanut butter
- Yum Yum peanut butter
- Shoprite’s Ritebrand peanut butter
- Checkers Housebrand peanut butter
- Pot O’Gold peanut butter
- Ubrand peanut butter
- Simple Truth peanut butter
- OK brand peanut butter
- Spar house brand peanut butter
- Woolworths Food peanut butter
Affected consumers will be granted a full refund, and can breathe a sigh of relief even if they have been exposed – Dr Harris Steinman informed Daily Maverick that “aflatoxin is a high-risk toxin but needs long exposure. Disease also only occurs after about 20 years of significant consumption.”
