March 2nd, 2022 
Competition Commission CCC -CP -NOTICE 1 OF 2022
UPDATE ON THE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE PRODUCT RECALL OF CERES 100% APPLE JUICE
On 11th October, 2021, the COMESA Competition Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Article 30(1)(b) of the COMESA Competition Regulations, 2004 (‘the Regulations’) issued a warning Notice to the general public that Pioneer Foods had recalled its Ceres 100% Apple Juice.
The public is hereby informed that the Commission engaged Pioneer Foods to establish the progress made on recalling the products from the affected markets. Pioneer Foods has informed the Commission that they have started the destruction of the products that were retrieved from the market and the certificates of destruction will be shared with the Commission in due course.
It should be remembered that the recall followed laboratory tests that identified that some of the batches contained patulin levels higher than the legal threshold of 50 parts per billion (microgram/kg).
The specific batches of the recalled Ceres 100% Apple Juice and the affected countries in the Common Market were published as shown below.
| Product Name | Single Unit Barcode | Date Coding | Markets affected | Product Visual |
| Ceres Apple
4x6x200ml |
6001240200018 | PD 14.06.2021/ BB 14.06.2022
and PD 21.06.2021/ BB 21.06.2022 and PD 22.06.2021/BB 22.06.2022 |
Seychelles; Zambia and Zimbabwe |  |
| Ceres Apple Sparkling 275 ml Glass | 6001240222676 | PD 14.06.2021/ BB 14.06.2022
and PD 15.06.2021/ BB 15.06.2022 |
Zambia and Zimbabwe |  |
| Ceres Apple
12x1L |
6001240100011 | PD 17.06.2021/ BB 17.06.2022
And PD 18.06.2021/ BB18.06.2022 and PD 21.06.2021/ BB 21.06.2022 and PD 22.06.2021/ BB 22.06.2022 |
Uganda; Mauritius; Zambia and Kenya |  |
The Commission has taken note of the actions put in by Pioneer Foods in removing the products from the market to protect consumers. The Commission believes that the situation has been contained and there may no longer be any substantial effects on consumers.
However, consumers who are still in possession of the affected products are advised to return them to their point of purchase. Consumers who were affected by the consumption of the affected products and were not compensated and those who attempted to return the affected product and were not refunded or were denied the return of the product can report to the Commission at the addresses below.
The Commission welcomes any representations on the matter from all interested stakeholders and the general public. Should you require more information or clarification on the matter you may contact the undersigned on +265 1 772 466, mdisasa@comesa.int or Mr. Steven Kamukama, Manager Consumer Welfare and Advocacy Division on skamukama@comesa.int.
Meti Demissie Disasa
Registrar
COMESA Competition Commission
5th Floor, Kang’ombe House
P.O. Box 30742, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Office Phone: +265 (0) 1 772466
Email: mdisasa@comesa.int or compcom@comesa.int
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