Thirty-eight popular pet food products have been recalled due to safety concerns. South African pet owners are being warned as RCL Foods launches a massive countrywide recall of several popular dry pet food brands. The move follows a serious safety scare involving Salmonella contamination.
The issue first came to light after condemned pet food,
originally sent to a Gauteng waste facility to be destroyed, was stolen and
resold on the informal market. However, after running additional checks, RCL
Foods discovered that the problem goes beyond the theft.
Some of those batches meant for destruction actually slipped through the cracks and ended up on retail shelves.
In a statement, the group confirmed the scale of the recall: "Consequently, in line with our commitment to the highest safety standards, RCL FOODS is initiating a countrywide recall of limited batches of Bobtail, Bonzo, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Feline Cuisine, Optimizor and Ultra Pet Dog food manufactured at one of our pet food plants."
RCL said it is currently working with regulators and shops
to pull the affected bags from the market. If you have any of these brands at
home, do not use them.
‘’Shoppers who have purchased any of the affected pet food
batches listed below are asked to return the product to their retailer for a
refund or replacement,’’ the company stated.
While police investigate the theft of the waste product,
independent experts have been brought in to determine how items marked for
disposal ended up in the formal trade.
Initial internal checks suggest that some of the condemned
stock was released to retailers by mistake. While the risk exists, the company
noted that there have not been any reported illnesses yet.
‘’At this stage, we are not aware of any animals or people
having been affected. However, shoppers are advised to exercise caution.’’
RCL Foods Chief Executive Officer, Paul Cruickshank, has issued a formal apology for the lapse in safety protocols.
"Our immediate priority is to recall, remove and
replace all potentially affected products from circulation. We did not meet our
own standards. This is not what our customers expect from RCL FOODS. We are
taking every step necessary to rectify the situation."
Pet owners can verify their bags by checking the batch identification
dates listed:
Done by: Mitchum George
Comments