Posted:
Product recall: RCL FOODS issues nationwide recall of pet food that may be contaminated with Salmonella
Thursday, 5 March 2026
RCL FOODS is issuing a recall of certain dry pet food products lines, manufactured in one of its facilities. This follows the recent theft of condemned dry pet food that had been sent to a waste management facility in eastern Gauteng for destruction, and its subsequent resale on the informal market. RCL FOODS instituted further checks on potentially contaminated product that had been designated for destruction, and regrets to confirm that some of these batches are in the formal trade.
Consequently, in line with our commitment to the highest safety standards, RCL FOODS is initiating a country‑wide recall of limited batches of Bobtail, Bonzo, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Feline Cuisine, Optimizor and Ultra Pet Dog food manufactured at one of our pet food plants. The batch identification dates for affected products are included in the accompanying document. RCL FOODS is working closely with retailers, regulators and relevant authorities to identify and remove all affected products from the market.
Shoppers who have purchased any of the affected pet food batches listed below are asked to return the product to their retailer for a refund or replacement.
In addition to the ongoing investigation into theft of condemned product, independent experts have been appointed to determine how product that had been marked for destruction, entered the formal market.
Preliminary internal assessments indicate that some product, that was condemned and marked for destruction, was erroneously released to the formal trade.
At this stage, we are not aware of any animals or people having been affected. However, shoppers are advised to exercise caution.
“On behalf of RCL FOODS, I want to apologise to all affected shoppers. Our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of shoppers and their pets,” said RCL FOODS Chief Executive Officer, Paul Cruickshank. “Our immediate priority is to recall, remove and replace all potentially affected products from circulation. 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.”
What is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a well-recognised food and feed safety pathogen capable of surviving in dry-processing environments, that can cause illness in pets and humans.
Our Response
Ensuring the quality and safety of our products is RCL FOODS’ highest priority. Our facilities undergo extensive product and environmental testing, including routine swabbing, and all products are tested throughout the production process.
In November last year, these in‑production quality control processes detected traces of Salmonella in certain dry pet food products. Further testing confirmed that contamination was limited to specific batches. All potentially affected products were immediately isolated, and, in line with our food safety protocols, the identified batches were condemned to be sent for destruction at a specialist waste management facility.
Production was paused while the plant was thoroughly cleaned and sanitised, while essential and preventative maintenance was carried out. Operations resumed only after extensive follow‑up testing confirmed the facility was free of contamination. Production has since resumed safely under strengthened monitoring measures. Only products with the specified expiry dates are included in the recall. All other products with different expiry dates are safe for sale and consumption.
View the full list of recalled products below.
What You Should Do
If you have pet food products with identifying expiry dates, please return them to your retailer for a refund or replacement, should stock be available.
Contact Us
For further assistance, consumers can reach out to our Customer Care team via:
- Telephone: 0860 103 764 (24 hours)
- WhatsApp: 087 359 0476
- Email: RCLConsumerCare@rclfoods.com (Business hours)
Keeping safe
If pets show any signs of illness after consuming dry pet food, pet owners should consult their veterinarian promptly. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling pet food is the most important step in preventing potential transmission to people. Anyone who believes they may have become ill after handling condemned product, or after contact with an animal that has consumed it, should consult a healthcare provider and seek appropriate medical care.