With pet food safety a pressing concern, RCL FOODS takes significant steps to protect both consumers and their furry companions, reminding us all of the importance of purchasing food only through established and trustworthy sources.
Image: Pixabay
RCL FOODS on Sunday afternoon issued a stern warning to pet owners in Gauteng following the theft of condemned pet food meant for destruction at a waste management facility.
The company is urging consumers not to purchase or use these products, which may be contaminated with Salmonella, a serious health risk for both pets and humans.
In a concerning development, certain batches of condemned pet food from RCL FOODS, sent for proper disposal in late January and February, have found their way onto unofficial sales channels in areas including Germiston, Boksburg, Benoni, and Alberton.
The company assured that all pet food currently available through authorised retailers, pet shops, and veterinary practices meets rigorous quality standards necessary for safe animal consumption.
While RCL FOODS has not received reports of illness related to this incident, the company said it is remaining vigilant.
“Our overriding concern is for the health and wellbeing of shoppers and their pets,” said RCL FOODS Chief Executive Officer, Paul Cruickshank.
Last year in November, the company had recalled several of their pet foods, due to to elevated deoxynivalenol levels, posing digestive issues.
The affected batches included various sizes of Bobtail, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Optimizor, Ultra Pet and Superwoof - please see attached images.
The company said in a statement that during the verification of testing results, they identified elevated levels of Deoxynivalenol (DON) in certain batches of maize used to produce dry pet food manufactured on 26 - 29 May and 4 - 5 and 17 June 2025.
They explained that deoxynivalenol (DON) is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by specific moulds that can grow on grains such as maize, which are tested as part of our quality management systems.
He said that their immediate priority is to identify and remove any stolen products from circulation to mitigate risks. RCL FOODS is actively collaborating with independent forensic experts and authorities to investigate how these products entered the market, with plans to file criminal charges against those responsible for the theft.
The affected products are limited to specific batch numbers within certain dry pet food ranges, including:
Consumers who suspect they possess any of the stolen items are advised against feeding them to pets or animals and should not consider donating or reselling these products.
If shoppers acquired these products through unofficial channels, especially social media since mid-January, they have been urged to contact RCL FOODS Customer Care immediately for assistance.
The contact options include:
The customer care team will verify the batch number on the packaging and organise the safe collection and disposal of any affected products. Additional information can also be found on RCL FOODS' social media pages.
For anyone with relevant information that could aid the ongoing investigation, RCL FOODS encouraged anonymous reports through their Hayibo tipoff line at 0800 003 224.
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