In a statement issued this Thursday, October 14, 2021, the management of Innodis says that Pioneer Foods has decided to recall specific batches of ‘Ceres Apple 1L’ products as a precautionary measure, following the detection of a higher level of a natural element contained in apple concentrate. “The management was immediately informed of this recall, and following an exhaustive verification of the shipments we received, we confirm that none of the above-mentioned batches were sent to Mauritius,” Innodis said. Thus, the management maintains that all Ceres products, including apple-based products, which are available in Mauritius, are fit for consumption. “Our supplier has already been informed that Mauritius is not affected by the batches in question,” it maintains.
Reminder of the information circulated in the international press
South African food and beverage manufacturer Pioneer Foods has recalled its CERES apple juice brands sold in seven Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries due to contamination with mold toxins.
The recalled brands were detected as having high levels of patulin, a fruit-based mold that, when consumed, can cause nausea, gastrointestinal upset and vomiting, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The COMESA Competition Commission said Wednesday that Pioneer Foods had informed it that the affected brands of juice were imported and marketed in several countries, including Kenya.
“The recall by Pioneer Foods follows laboratory tests and engagements with the local supplier of the apple juice concentrate used in the reconstitution of the concentrate into apple juice,” it said in a statement.
The juice is sold in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Seychelles and Mauritius.
Laboratory tests showed that CERES juice packaged between June 14 and June 30, 2021, contained levels above the legally permitted 50 micrograms per liter. According to the WHO, patulin is a form of mycotoxin. Consumption of high levels of patulin can cause nausea, gastrointestinal upset and vomiting.
