Product recall: ButtaNutt says 83 units need to be recovered

The manufacturers of the peanut butter that has been recalled, ButtaNutt (Pty) LTD, said 83 units delivered to retailers contain aflatoxin levels above the regulatory limit. 

The National Consumers Commission (NCC) has urged consumers to return items produced in late January. 

In a statement released, ButtaNutt said its own internal routine testing identified that the aflatoxin levels were above the South African regulatory limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb). 

“While the majority of the affected stock was successfully secured and never reached the market, 83 individual units were released to retail shelves. Our primary focus is now on the recovery of these units to ensure the absolute safety of our customers,” the company said. 

It further stated that while it understands a recall can be alarming, they provided a perspective on the actual health risks: 

• Internal capture: This discrepancy was caught by ButtaNutt’s updated internal procedures, which were specifically enhanced following the 2024 national peanut butter recalls to provide an extra layer of safety.
• Acute vs. chronic risk: Health experts clarify that aflatoxin risks are primarily associated with ‘chronic’ long-term ingestion over decades, rather than a once-off ‘acute’ exposure. 
• Safety margin: According to scientific guidelines, an adult would need to consume over 2.4 kg of contaminated peanut butter at far higher levels than these batches (500 ppb) multiple times a week to experience immediate health effects. If you have consumed a standard serving, it is highly unlikely to cause any immediate harm.

“As a non-negotiable next step, ButtaNutt is implementing a ‘positive release' protocol. Moving forward, no single batch of peanut butter will leave our facility without its own verified, independent aflatoxin certificate of analysis,” it said. 

Affected batches:

Chocolate Peanut Butter 250g: Best Before (BB) 15/07/2027

100% Peanut Butter 1kg: BB 17/07/2027

100% Peanut 2.5kg: BB 13/07/2027 or BB 28/07/2027

ButtaNutt has urged consumers not to consume the product but return it to the store it was purchased for a full refund. 

Consumers who purchased products online are urged to email: juanita@buttanutt.co.za with a photo of the batch to arrange a collection.

ButtaNutt's CEO, Antoine van Heerden, has apologised profusely for this error. 

"Since starting ButtaNutt at a local university market 13 years ago, our commitment has always been to provide clean, minimally processed food that we are proud to serve in our own homes. We are deeply sorry for this experience, and I am personally overseeing a full investigation with our supplier to ensure it never happens again,” van Heerden said. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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