A nationwide recall of several pet food products has been launched after batches of condemned dry pet food were stolen from a waste management facility in eastern Gauteng and later discovered being sold in both formal and informal markets across South Africa.
Food producer RCL Foods confirmed it is withdrawing limited batches of several brands from store shelves, including Bobtail, Bonzo, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Optimizor and Ultra Pet.
Consumers who have purchased the affected products have been urged to return them to retailers for a refund or replacement.
The recall covers a range of dry dog and cat food products across various pack sizes and expiry dates.
According to the company, testing detected Salmonella in the condemned stock. The bacteria can pose health risks to both pets and humans, particularly through contact with contaminated saliva or faeces.
RCL Foods said it is working with retailers and regulatory authorities to trace the affected batches and remove them from circulation. The company has also appointed independent experts to investigate how the condemned products were removed from the waste facility and re-entered the market.
Chief executive Paul Cruickshank acknowledged that the situation fell short of the company’s standards and said the immediate priority is to ensure all potentially affected products are recalled, removed and replaced.
At this stage, the company said it has not received any confirmed reports of illness in people or animals linked to the recalled products.
Pet owners who may have purchased the affected batches are advised to stop using the products immediately and return them to the retailer.
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