Food manufacturer RCL Foods has issued a nationwide recall of several dry pet food products in South Africa after identifying potential contamination with Salmonella.
The recall affects limited batches of several popular pet food brands, including Bobtail, Bonzo, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Feline Cuisine, Optimizor and Ultra Pet Dog Food.
Recall triggered by contamination concerns
The company said the recall was initiated after discovering that condemned dry pet food—originally sent to a waste management facility in eastern Gauteng for destruction—had been stolen and later resold through informal markets.
Following the incident, RCL Foods conducted additional checks on products that had previously been identified as potentially contaminated and scheduled for destruction.
The investigation revealed that some of these batches may have entered the formal retail supply chain.
“Consequently, in line with our commitment to the highest safety standards, RCL Foods is initiating a countrywide recall of limited batches of certain dry pet food products,” the company said in a statement.
Health risks linked to Salmonella
Salmonella is a well-known pathogen associated with food and feed safety. The bacteria can survive in dry processing environments and may cause illness in both animals and humans.
Experts note that the bacteria can be transmitted from pets to humans through contact with contaminated food, saliva, or faeces.
In some cases, infected pets may not show any visible symptoms of illness.
Although no cases of illness in animals or people have been reported so far, consumers have been advised to exercise caution.
RCL Foods urged shoppers who purchased any of the affected batches to return the products to their retailer for a refund or replacement.
Investigation underway
The company said it is working closely with retailers, regulators, and relevant authorities to identify and remove all affected products from the market as quickly as possible.
Independent experts have also been appointed to investigate how products that had been designated for destruction ended up entering the formal supply chain.
Preliminary internal assessments indicate that some products marked for destruction may have been mistakenly released into the retail market.
RCL Foods Chief Executive Officer Paul Cruickshank apologised for the situation and acknowledged that the company had not met its usual standards.
“Our immediate priority is to recall, remove and replace all potentially affected products from circulation,” he said.
“This is not what our customers expect from RCL Foods, and we are taking every step necessary to rectify the situation.”
