Food manufacturer RCL Foods has recalled 38 pet food products from shelves across South Africa due to concerns over possible salmonella contamination.
In a statement, the company said the recall affects limited batches of several well-known brands, including Bobtail, Bonzo, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Feline Cuisine, Optimizor and Ultra Pet dog food products that were manufactured at one of its pet food facilities.
Consumers who purchased any of the affected batches have been urged to return the products to the retailer where they were bought in order to receive a refund or replacement.
RCL Foods said preliminary internal investigations suggest that certain products which had been condemned and marked for destruction were mistakenly released into the formal retail market.
Chief executive officer Paul Cruickshank apologised to customers and pet owners affected by the recall.
“On behalf of RCL Foods, I want to apologise to all affected shoppers. Our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of consumers and their pets,” Cruickshank said.
He added that the company’s immediate focus is to remove all potentially affected products from circulation and replace them as quickly as possible.
“We did not meet our own standards. This is not what our customers expect from RCL Foods. We are taking every step necessary to rectify the situation,” he said.