Two budget brands of peanut products are being recalled in New Zealand due to high levels of aflatoxins, but a local importer says their stock isn’t affected.

Specific batches of Value Pack roasted salted peanuts, and nuts and raisins; and Refill Pack roasted nut mix and raw nut mix are being recalled because they contain aflatoxins – a byproduct of mould – at higher-than-allowable levels, RNZ reported yesterday.

Cook Islands Trading Company (CITC) general manager Gaye Whitta confirmed that CITC does not stock any of these products.

Wigmore’s Superstore manager Michelle Wigmore confirmed that they do import these brands of peanuts but their stock does not include any of the recalled batch. 

“Last time we imported these was last December and our best before date is 31 May 2024,” Wigmore said.

“We have a few packets of the roasted peanuts 400g with best before 31 May 2024 left but I have decided to take those off the shelf until I hear back from our supplier.”

The products affected by the recall were:

• Value Pack (VP) Nuts and Raisins (400g), best before 29 September 2024
• Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (400g), best before 8 October 2024 and 15 October 2024
• Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (750g), best before 8 October 2024
• Refill Pack brand Roasted Nut Mix (850g), best before 5 March 2024
• Refill Pack brand Raw Nut Mix (850g), best before 5 October 2024

New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said aflatoxins came from a group of moulds that grew on foods produced in hot and tropical climates.

“Levels of aflatoxin in the New Zealand diet are usually very low and don't represent a health risk, however, consumption of food products with increased levels of aflatoxin over an extended period of time can be harmful.”

Anyone who had bought any of the affected batches should not consume them and should return them to the place of purchase for a refund, Arbuckle said.

• Additional reporting from RNZ