Commission investigates conduct of Clover

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) announced that it was currently investigating Clover (PTY) Ltd for alleged contraventions of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

This comes after the dairy company informed the NCC that it has recalled 10 776 units of 400g of Go Nuts peanut butter following numerous tests that revealed higher levels of aflatoxin. 

Aflatoxin is defined as a family of toxins produced by certain fungi found on crops such as maize, peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts. 

The recall by Clover comes after the commission recently received five peanut butter recalls. 

These include Pick ‘n Pay’s 1kg No Name, Dis-Chem’s Lifestyle Brand 400g and 800g of their smooth and crunchy, Wazoogles, Eat Naked, and Woolworths’ peanut butter dairy ice cream after these products failed to meet the acceptable levels of aflatoxin.

READ | Various peanut butter brands recalled

“Following these recalls, the NCC called on all producers, manufacturers, and suppliers of peanut butter, peanut butter-based products, and products containing peanuts to immediately test their products for aflatoxin levels and submit their results to the NCC,” the commission explained.

NCC Acting Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza, said the call for suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors of these products to immediately test their products for levels of aflatoxin has been an eye-opener. 

“From the test results that were received by the commission, there is an indication that suppliers were not compliant with their protocols, and regulations. We are expecting suppliers, to be specific, the retailers, to immediately recall those brands that are non-compliant. This is to ensure that we protect South African consumers from any further harm,” she said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the NCC said it has made a decisive decision to get to the bottom of the challenge.

“Section 60 of the Act read with the NCC’s Product Recall Guidelines requires that the supplier or manufacturer upon discovering that safety has been compromised that a retailer or supplier must recall the affected product immediately and inform the regulators. Upon receiving the notification from Clover (PTY) Ltd, the commission assessed the recall and established some inconsistencies with the CPA,” Mabuza said.

Consumers who have Clover’s Go Nuts peanut 400g with the 12, 18, and 19 June 2025 and 19 July 2025 best-before dates are urged to stop consuming the product and return it to the point of purchase for a full refund. 

The risk of consuming products with higher than acceptable levels of aflatoxin may lead to health complications like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, the NCC said.

“South African consumers who have the recalled products must immediately stop consuming these products and return the products to a point of purchase for a full refund, with or without proof of purchase,” Mabuza added.

Clover said the quality and safety of its products remain a top priority.

“All affected batches of the product have already been removed from all stores countrywide. All other batches of our Go Nuts Peanut Butter product in stores are not affected by this recall and are 100% safe for consumption,” said Clover in a statement.  – SAnews.gov.za