CAPE TOWN – Pioneer Foods is launching a recall of certain 100% apple juice products,
sold under its LiquiFruit brand in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, and Ceres
brand in other jurisdictions.
"The health and wellbeing of our consumers is of absolute importance to us, and
hence when we identified the potential of a food safety issue, following in-house
standard testing and engagement with one of our local suppliers, we immediately
launched an internal investigation into all our 100% apple juice products" explains
Tertius Carstens, CEO.
The investigation to date, has confirmed that a limited quantity of apple juice
concentrate supplied to us, contained elevated levels of patulin. Based on these
results the company took the decision to launch the recall. Patulin is a naturally
occurring mycotoxin commonly found in apple juice concentrate and apple juice. The
recall is based on the presence of this mycotoxin (patulin) exceeding 50 parts per
billion (microgram/kg) which is the regulatory threshold.
"We have taken the decision, as a precautionary measure and with the interests
of our consumers at heart, to launch a recall of products produced from the apple
juice concentrate batch in question".
The following LiquiFruit 100% Apple Juice SKUs sold inside South Africa, Botswana
and Namibia are affected, with the relevant batch and production codes below:
| Product Name | Single unit barcode | Date Coding | Image |
| LiquiFruit Clear Apple 250ml carton | 60052599 | PD 11.06.2021 / BB 11.06.2022 |
 |
| LiquiFruit Clear Apple 330ml can | 6001240225561 | PD 07.06.2021 / BB 07.06.2022 PD 08.06.2021 / BB 08.06.2022 |
 |
| LiquiFruit Apple 300ml can | 6001240239346 | PD 21.06.2021 / BB 21.06.2022 |
 |
| LiquiFruit Clear Apple 1L | 6001048000339 | PD 07.06.2021 / BB 07.06.2022 PD 08.06.2021 / BB 08.06.2022 PD 21.06.2021/ BB 21.06.2022 |
 |
The following Ceres 100% Apple Juice SKUs sold outside of South Africa
are affected, with the relevant batch and production codes below:
| Product Name | Single unit barcode | Date Coding | Product visual |
| Export: Ceres Apple 4x6x200ml | 6001240200018 | PD 14.06.2021 / BB 14.06.2022 PD 21.06.2021 / BB 21.06.2022 PD 22.06.2021 / BB 22.06.2022 PD 28.06.2021/ BB 28.06.2022 PD 29.06.2021/ BB 29.06.2022 PD 30.06.2021/ BB 30.06.2022 |
 |
| Export: Ceres Apple Sparkling 275 ml glass |
6 001240 222676 | PD 14.06.2021 / BB 14.06.2022 PD 15.06.2021 / BB 15.06.2022 |
 |
| Export: Ceres Apple 12x1L | 6001240100011 | PD 17.06.2021 / BB 17.06.2022 PD 18.06.2021 / BB 18.06.2022 PD 21.06.2021 / BB 21.06.2022 PD 22.06.2021 / BB 22.06.2022 PD 28.06.2021/ BB 28.06.2022 PD 29.06.2021/ BB 29.06.2022 PD 30.06.2021/ BB 30.06.2022 |
 |