I wouldn’t have known that a peanut butter product on our shelves had tested high for aflatoxin — a potentially carcinogenic toxin — had it not been for a newspaper report. I see that the latest peanut butter product recall was reported in The Citizen and Nova News.
It does make one wonder how strictly controlled peanut butter really is in this country. We are told that it is tightly regulated, yet these recalls keep surfacing. And the issue is not a trivial one. The concern is aflatoxin — a toxin that, at high levels, carries carcinogenic risks. That is not something one takes lightly when it comes to a staple food found in so many cupboards.
Fortunately, in the latest recall, it is not a brand I have ever tried. I tend to stick to the major brands that have been around for years. I cannot recall any problems with them, although that is not to say that problems will not arise in future. Food safety, like anything else, is only as good as the systems and vigilance behind it.
Still, it leaves you thinking. If you are a peanut butter lover — and many of us are — you do need to keep an eye out for product recall announcements. That applies not only in South Africa, but anywhere in the world.
The latest recall
The most recent case involves the South African brand ButtaNutt, which voluntarily recalled certain batches of its peanut butter in February 2026.
The reason: elevated levels of aflatoxin detected during routine testing.
The affected products were manufactured on 15 January 2026 and included:
• 100% Peanut Butter (2.5 kg)
• 100% Peanut Butter (1 kg)
• Chocolate Peanut Butter (250 g)
Only a limited number of units made it onto shelves — roughly 83 units — with most stock secured before distribution. The recall was reported to the National Consumer Commission, which is monitoring the process.
What brings it closer to home is where these products were actually sold. They were distributed across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape through a range of retailers — not obscure outlets, but stores many of us know or visit. These included outlets such as SPAR branches (Sea Point, Stellenbosch, Sonstraal and Wilderness), Pick n Pay stores in Scottburgh and at The Pavilion, as well as Jackson’s Real Food Market in Kyalami and Bryanston, Irene Farm Shop, and Bedford Spar, among others.
In other words, these were not products tucked away on a forgotten shelf somewhere. They were available in everyday retail environments.
Consumers were advised to check their products, stop consuming the affected batches, and return them for a full refund. The NCC has also indicated that it is engaging with the supplier to determine whether the source of the contamination may lie further up the supply chain, possibly at the level of the raw peanut supplier.
Importantly, there have been no widespread reports of illness linked to this recall. Occasional consumption is considered low risk, but the concern lies in long-term exposure.
Why aflatoxin matters
Aflatoxins are produced by certain fungi that grow on crops like peanuts, especially in warm and humid conditions. They are among the most potent naturally occurring carcinogens.
The primary health risks include:
• Liver cancer, particularly with prolonged exposure
• Acute poisoning at very high levels
• Weakened immune response
• Growth issues in children with chronic exposure
You cannot see or taste aflatoxin. That is what makes it unsettling. It is not like spoiled food that you can easily discard.
Not an isolated issue
This is not the first time peanut butter has been recalled in South Africa.
In 2024, a major recall event involved multiple retail brands supplied by a single manufacturer. Products sold through retailers such as Pick n Pay and Dis-Chem were pulled from shelves after unsafe aflatoxin levels were detected.
That episode ultimately led to regulatory action and a significant financial penalty for the manufacturer involved.
What is striking is that these incidents are not ancient history. They are recent. And they point to vulnerabilities somewhere along the supply chain — whether in storage, processing, or quality control.
A global perspective
Interestingly, when one looks beyond South Africa, similar peanut butter recalls due to aflatoxin are not commonly reported in recent years.
That does not mean the risk does not exist elsewhere. Aflatoxin contamination is a global agricultural issue. But it suggests that the frequency of recalls locally may be higher than one might expect.
That raises a question — is the problem more prevalent here, or are our systems simply more vigilant in detecting it?
What can consumers do?
There is no need for panic, but there is a need for awareness.
A few practical steps help reduce risk:
• Stick to reputable brands with strong quality control
• Check recall notices from time to time
• Store peanut butter in a cool, dry place
• Refrigerate natural peanut butter once opened
• Avoid consuming products that look or smell unusual
Above all, a varied diet reduces reliance on any single food source.
Peanut butter is one of those simple, everyday pleasures. A sandwich, a spoonful, something quick and satisfying.
But the recent recalls are a reminder that even the most familiar foods deserve scrutiny.
One hopes that the systems in place are robust enough to catch problems early — and that when they do, they act quickly, as in this latest case.
Still, it does raise a red flag. And it is a flag worth paying attention to.
