• Appletiser drinks contain suspected patulin above the permitted limit
• Patulin is a form of mycotoxin.
• When consumed in high levels may cause nausea, gastro-intestinal disturbances and vomiting.

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) says it has received a cautionary notice from the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) informing the general public to avoid buying and consuming some affected batches of Appletiser drinks.
Commission Senior Public Relations officer Namukolo Kasumpa said in a statement that the product is suspected to contain patulin above the permitted limit of 50 parts per billion for foodstuffs.
Ms. Kasumpa explained that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), patulin is a form of mycotoxin which when consumed in high levels may cause nausea, gastro-intestinal disturbances and vomiting.
She further explained that the warning comes after manufacturers of Appletiser, Coca-Cola South Africa Company (CCSA), initiated a voluntary recall around 23rd September of some batches of the said product from the market in that country only, whereas it was established that Appletiser is imported and distributed into Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and no such recall was announced or made.
Ms. Kasumpa stated that in view of this, COMESA Competition Commission requested Coca-Cola South Africa Company to recall the affected products from the Common Market and issue a notice to the public indicating its distributors and related dealers in the Common Market to enable consumers identify where to return products.
“Further they were directed to inform the public of any undertaking to replace the products or refund the price of the products and desist from exporting the same products to the Common Market until such a time when the defect is corrected and the general public is informed accordingly.
“Considering that the recalled products are unsafe, and CCSA has not taken steps to recall them from the Common Market, CCC is hereby invoking Article 33 (2) of the COMESA Competition Regulations to issue a compulsory product recall notice to CCSA. The specific batches of Appletiser can be identified by looking at the Best Before date which is stamped at the bottom or top of the products,” Ms. Kasumpa explained.
Meanwhile, CCPC has urged all consumers in Zambia and traders to ensure that they look out for the affected batches of Appletiser drinks for the good of their health and safety.
“Further, we would like to advise all consumers who may have already purchased the affected products to report to any of our provincial offices across the country or call on the toll-free number 5678,” she stated.