On 30 September 2024, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) received an urgent precautionary product safety recall notification of the Top Score Instant Porridge brand produced in Namibia and supplied to the Spar Group in South Africa. Namib Mills, based in Namibia, notified the NCC of an urgent precautionary recall of this product and the local supplier, Spar Group, has also communicated this information to the NCC.
South African consumers who purchased Top Score Instant Porridge by SPAR Group are urged to stop consuming the product and immediately return it to the retailer for a full refund.
South African consumers who purchased the product are urged to stop consuming the product and immediately return it to the retailer for a full refund.
There is currently a separate investigation under way, including laboratory analysis, by relevant authorities in the Buffalo City Metro, where safety concerns of the product were first raised. The NCC awaits the outcome of this investigation as it will inform the steps the NCC can take in terms of the Consumer Protection Act.
In the interim, the NCC is separately investigating the product recall, especially given the potential public health concerns. The NCC is working closely with other authorities that are investigating this product recall.
NCC’s Acting Commissioner Mr Hardin Ratshisusu says: “Consumers are urged to immediately return the affected product as its further use may be harmful. It is also the responsibility of the concerned retailers to take every step possible to ensure the product is removed from the shelves and is not distributed further.”
Background information on the product recall
The recalled product was produced on 06/08/2024, with the best-before date of 06/02/2026
While the manufacturer Namib Mills communicated the recall of the Instant Vanilla Flavoured Maize meal, Spar Group South Africa has communicated other flavours (see attached).
The NCC is monitoring this recall in terms of section 60 of the Consumer Protection Act (No 68 of 2008) read with the Product Recall Safety Guidelines.
ENDS
See full Media Statement below:
