

Pioneer Foods
Based on recent customer reviews, Pioneer Foods is facing significant dissatisfaction from long-standing loyal customers, particularly around flagship cereal brands like ProNutro and staple products such as White Star maize meal, Spekko rice, and Bokomo cornflakes. Customers consistently mention concerns about product quality, including chemical or rancid smells, altered recipes, and contamination involving insects, weevils, and mould. A recurring theme is frustration with customer care, where complainants describe generic template responses, repeated requests for already-submitted information, and unresolved escalations. A few voices acknowledge the brand's role in affordable food provision.
TrustIndex
2.2
NPS Score
-80
Recommended: Unlikely
Sep '25 - Aug '26
Based on recent customer reviews, Pioneer Foods is facing significant dissatisfaction from long-standing loyal customers, particularly around flagship cereal brands like ProNutro and staple products such as White Star maize meal, Spekko rice, and Bokomo cornflakes. Customers consistently mention concerns about product quality, including chemical or rancid smells, altered recipes, and contamination involving insects, weevils, and mould. A recurring theme is frustration with customer care, where complainants describe generic template responses, repeated requests for already-submitted information, and unresolved escalations. A few voices acknowledge the brand's role in affordable food provision.
Pioneer Foods has a TrustIndex of 2.2 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 15 reviews in the last 12 months. Hellopeter has tracked Pioneer Foods across 228 total reviews.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Jan 2010
Chocolate Pro Neutro Disaster !!!! I have been a big Pro Neutro customer since 1993, that I can remember and my kids as a next generationalso loved it. @Bokomo Foods, you lost loyal customers today. I bought the new Chocolate Pro Neutro, but what a disappointment! It is exactly the same texture as Morvite. Not worth the money! Make it R20 per box and I will still nit buy it! Why and who decided to change something that worked all these years, to this disaster of a product!!?? @Bokomo Foods you are failing with your "New Morvite" Chocolate Pro Neutro. I hope you fail fast and bring the original Chocolate Pro Neutro back.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2010
Chocolate Pro Neutro Disaster !!!! I have been a big Pro Neutro customer since 1993, that I can remember and my kids as a next generationalso loved it. @Bokomo Foods, you lost loyal customers today. I bought the new Chocolate Pro Neutro, but what a disappointment! It is exactly the same texture as Morvite. Not worth the money! Make it R20 per box and I will still nit buy it! Why and who decided to change something that worked all these years, to this disaster of a product!!?? @Bokomo Foods you are failing with your "New Morvite" Chocolate Pro Neutro. I hope you fail fast and bring the original Chocolate Pro Neutro back.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2026
Good day I trust you are well, I'm logging in a complaint in relation to White Star, I bought the product on the 25th of March and recently opened it, I logged a call and complained about the product, and they required the packaging, not knowing that id experience such an issue I dispatched the packaging so they told me they can not help me, please assist with this matter
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2026
Good day I trust you are well, I'm logging in a complaint in relation to White Star, I bought the product on the 25th of March and recently opened it, I logged a call and complained about the product, and they required the packaging, not knowing that id experience such an issue I dispatched the packaging so they told me they can not help me, please assist with this matter
1 reviews | Active since May 2024
The last few packs of Pronutro again have an unpleasant chemical/rancid smell (PD 03.10.25, BB 03.10.26 - this may refer to 3 October, or 10 March). This issue has been reported countless times over the years. Initially I thought changing to the foil packs had solved the problem, but, alas, it hasn't, and given their complete lack of response to past complaints, they just don't care. 1 in 26 customers don't complain, imagine how their business would boom if they took note and addressed the problem. We're paying good money for an inferior product, potentially impacting our health. Maybe the City Health Inspector should test a few packs, then we will at least know what we are eating.
1 reviews | Active since May 2024
The last few packs of Pronutro again have an unpleasant chemical/rancid smell (PD 03.10.25, BB 03.10.26 - this may refer to 3 October, or 10 March). This issue has been reported countless times over the years. Initially I thought changing to the foil packs had solved the problem, but, alas, it hasn't, and given their complete lack of response to past complaints, they just don't care. 1 in 26 customers don't complain, imagine how their business would boom if they took note and addressed the problem. We're paying good money for an inferior product, potentially impacting our health. Maybe the City Health Inspector should test a few packs, then we will at least know what we are eating.
1 reviews | Active since May 2014
Why did the formula for Chocolate Pronutro have to be changed? My daughter has been home in SA, visiting from the UK for the last month. I got her some Pronutro - her favourite - but we couldn't find any Chocolate flaour lately, until we were shopping on Monday. She bought 3 big boxes to take back home with her and she is going to be dik-demoerin if it is NOT real Pronutro. Why mess with a trusted product???
1 reviews | Active since May 2014
Why did the formula for Chocolate Pronutro have to be changed? My daughter has been home in SA, visiting from the UK for the last month. I got her some Pronutro - her favourite - but we couldn't find any Chocolate flaour lately, until we were shopping on Monday. She bought 3 big boxes to take back home with her and she is going to be dik-demoerin if it is NOT real Pronutro. Why mess with a trusted product???
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2010
My Initial Complaint: I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a 500g box of Bokomo ProNutro (Banana flavor) purchased from Pick n Pay Trade Route Mall in January 2026. Upon opening the product, I was horrified to find live insects’ infestation inside the packaging. This is a severe breach of food safety standards and suggests a total failure in your quality control processes. This incident has not only caused significant distress and a loss of appetite but has also led to an infestation within my home. I require a formal response from your Senior Management and Quality Assurance departments within 48 hours detailing your corrective actions. Failure to provide this will result in an immediate escalation to the National Consumer Commission under the Consumer Protection Act for a full investigation into the health risks posed by your products. The defective unit has been retained and is available for physical inspection upon request. All supporting evidence and photographs documenting the non-conformity are attached. Product Details: • PD: 08/10/25 07:21 • BB: 08/10/26 • Barcode: 6001156920055 Pioneer Foods Generic Template reply: Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with us. We appreciate your insights and feedback, as they help us improve our products to better meet the needs of our valued consumers like yourself. We have received your query and we are sorry that you are disappointed. We would like to assist with resolving your query. For us to do so, we require additional information from you. Please assist us with providing the following: • Clear images capturing the following: o The back and the front of the product sample, including the pack size. o The product content and issue, i.e. tear in packet. • Flavour of product if applicable • Your Cell phone number. • Proof of purchase or till slip. • Store were you purchased the product. Do you have any remaining product? If yes, please keep it safe as we will need it for testing. We look forward to hearing from you and we will do our best to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you once again for engaging with us, as it is our pleasure to be of service to you. Sincerely PepsiCo Consumer Care My respond as a customer: I’m disappointed by this automated-sounding reply. I’d appreciate it if you could actually read my initial message and get back to me with a relevant answer Your latest response is unacceptable. You have requested information that was already provided in 90% of my initial correspondence, including the images and relevant details I sent. I am not looking for a generic template response; I am seeking a specific resolution to my complaint. Please review my original submission carefully before responding again. If I do not receive a personalized and satisfactory resolution by [03.03.2026 Tuesday), I will be uploading this entire correspondence to Hellopeter and other social media platforms to alert the public to your lack of service. I look forward to your urgent response My respond again after receiving a R120.00 Voucher: I formally reject the R120.00 Shoprite Checkers wiCode issued in response to my complaint (Ref: P00001-***). Given the severity of this matter, I find this gesture insulting; you may retain the credit or donate it to charity. The "nightmare" experience caused by your non-conforming product, compounded by the incompetence of your staff, far exceeds the value of a grocery voucher. Your product introduced an infestation into my home that required three bottles of insecticide to resolve—an expense and health hazard your team failed to even acknowledge. Issuing a nominal voucher at your own discretion, without assessing the actual damages incurred, is a dismissive and appalling approach to customer service. I am now formally demanding the following: 1. A detailed technical report outlining your findings regarding the product failure. 2. A meaningful resolution that accounts for the actual costs involved in rectifying the infestation. Be advised that I will be uploading the details of this ordeal to all social media platforms to create public awareness regarding your company’s substandard service and lack of accountability. I await your immediate response.
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2010
My Initial Complaint: I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a 500g box of Bokomo ProNutro (Banana flavor) purchased from Pick n Pay Trade Route Mall in January 2026. Upon opening the product, I was horrified to find live insects’ infestation inside the packaging. This is a severe breach of food safety standards and suggests a total failure in your quality control processes. This incident has not only caused significant distress and a loss of appetite but has also led to an infestation within my home. I require a formal response from your Senior Management and Quality Assurance departments within 48 hours detailing your corrective actions. Failure to provide this will result in an immediate escalation to the National Consumer Commission under the Consumer Protection Act for a full investigation into the health risks posed by your products. The defective unit has been retained and is available for physical inspection upon request. All supporting evidence and photographs documenting the non-conformity are attached. Product Details: • PD: 08/10/25 07:21 • BB: 08/10/26 • Barcode: 6001156920055 Pioneer Foods Generic Template reply: Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with us. We appreciate your insights and feedback, as they help us improve our products to better meet the needs of our valued consumers like yourself. We have received your query and we are sorry that you are disappointed. We would like to assist with resolving your query. For us to do so, we require additional information from you. Please assist us with providing the following: • Clear images capturing the following: o The back and the front of the product sample, including the pack size. o The product content and issue, i.e. tear in packet. • Flavour of product if applicable • Your Cell phone number. • Proof of purchase or till slip. • Store were you purchased the product. Do you have any remaining product? If yes, please keep it safe as we will need it for testing. We look forward to hearing from you and we will do our best to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you once again for engaging with us, as it is our pleasure to be of service to you. Sincerely PepsiCo Consumer Care My respond as a customer: I’m disappointed by this automated-sounding reply. I’d appreciate it if you could actually read my initial message and get back to me with a relevant answer Your latest response is unacceptable. You have requested information that was already provided in 90% of my initial correspondence, including the images and relevant details I sent. I am not looking for a generic template response; I am seeking a specific resolution to my complaint. Please review my original submission carefully before responding again. If I do not receive a personalized and satisfactory resolution by [03.03.2026 Tuesday), I will be uploading this entire correspondence to Hellopeter and other social media platforms to alert the public to your lack of service. I look forward to your urgent response My respond again after receiving a R120.00 Voucher: I formally reject the R120.00 Shoprite Checkers wiCode issued in response to my complaint (Ref: P00001-***). Given the severity of this matter, I find this gesture insulting; you may retain the credit or donate it to charity. The "nightmare" experience caused by your non-conforming product, compounded by the incompetence of your staff, far exceeds the value of a grocery voucher. Your product introduced an infestation into my home that required three bottles of insecticide to resolve—an expense and health hazard your team failed to even acknowledge. Issuing a nominal voucher at your own discretion, without assessing the actual damages incurred, is a dismissive and appalling approach to customer service. I am now formally demanding the following: 1. A detailed technical report outlining your findings regarding the product failure. 2. A meaningful resolution that accounts for the actual costs involved in rectifying the infestation. Be advised that I will be uploading the details of this ordeal to all social media platforms to create public awareness regarding your company’s substandard service and lack of accountability. I await your immediate response.
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2017
{P00001-***} I am extremely disappointed with the service I have received from PepsiCo regarding contaminated White Star maize meal purchased at Shoprite in Newlands East. The product had visible mold well before the expiry date and caused my partner and daughter to become sick. I have kept the remaining contents in its original packaging for proper testing as requested. After two weeks of waiting and following up, the company’s solution is to refund the R100 I spent and add only R60 on top, totalling R160. This feels dismissive considering the health risk and distress caused to my family. I have tried to remain patient, but the lack of urgency and accountability is unacceptable. I expected a far more responsible and serious response to a food contamination matter. Very frustrated customer. Mandisa Y Mkhize *** ***
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2017
{P00001-***} I am extremely disappointed with the service I have received from PepsiCo regarding contaminated White Star maize meal purchased at Shoprite in Newlands East. The product had visible mold well before the expiry date and caused my partner and daughter to become sick. I have kept the remaining contents in its original packaging for proper testing as requested. After two weeks of waiting and following up, the company’s solution is to refund the R100 I spent and add only R60 on top, totalling R160. This feels dismissive considering the health risk and distress caused to my family. I have tried to remain patient, but the lack of urgency and accountability is unacceptable. I expected a far more responsible and serious response to a food contamination matter. Very frustrated customer. Mandisa Y Mkhize *** ***
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2025
This is the third box of #Pronutro that has a bad smell and even worse taste that is inedible. The first time I ignored it and just through it away. The second time I emailed #Pioneerfoods I had no successful outcome. Now is the third time and I don't know what to do. In the past years there was never a problem with #Pronutro. But since a year back the smell and taste is awful 😖
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2025
This is the third box of #Pronutro that has a bad smell and even worse taste that is inedible. The first time I ignored it and just through it away. The second time I emailed #Pioneerfoods I had no successful outcome. Now is the third time and I don't know what to do. In the past years there was never a problem with #Pronutro. But since a year back the smell and taste is awful 😖