PF
Pioneer Foods
Unclaimed Business
PF
AI Review Summary
Based on recent customer reviews, Pioneer Foods faces severe criticism centered on food contamination and unresponsive customer service. Customers repeatedly report finding live insects, weevils, mold, and foreign objects in products including ProNutro, White Star maize meal, Spekko rice, and Bokomo oats. A recurring complaint about ProNutro highlights a persistent chemical or rancid smell and taste. Customers express deep frustration with generic template responses, repeated requests for already-submitted information, weeks of silence, and inadequate resolutions such as low-value vouchers that fail to address health risks and actual damages incurred.
Performance(last 12 months):
TrustIndex
0
Score
Ranking
#53
in Retail
NPS Score
-86
Recommended: Unlikely
Review Distribution
1.2|22 Reviews
May '25 - Apr '26
5(5.6%)
4(0%)
3(0%)
2(5.6%)
1(88.9%)
5(5.6%)
4(0%)
3(0%)
2(5.6%)
1(88.9%)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pioneer Foods
Based on recent customer reviews, this business delivers a consistently strong customer experience anchored by outstanding agent quality and rapid communication. Customers frequently name individual consultants and praise their friendliness, patience, and professionalism. Recurring praise is given to claims and roadside assistance, though a vocal minority report frustrating delays, rejected claims, and poor transparency around premium increases.
Hellopeter's TrustIndex is a 0–10 score based on review star ratings, reply speed, and recent activity over the last 12 months. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (22)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your ExperienceA
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Mar 2026, 08:36
Pioneer Foods / PepsiCo Appalling / Dismay Consumer Care
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: P00001-2603020041). 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.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Mar 2026, 08:36
Pioneer Foods / PepsiCo Appalling / Dismay Consumer Care
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: P00001-2603020041). 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.
0
Replies (0)YM
Yoli M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
2 Mar 2026, 14:20
FRUSTATED CUSTOMÈR
{P00001-2602160010} 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 Mkhizemy89@gmail.com 078 865 5586
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)YM
Yoli M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
2 Mar 2026, 14:20
FRUSTATED CUSTOMÈR
{P00001-2602160010} 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 Mkhizemy89@gmail.com 078 865 5586
0
Replies (0)M
Morné
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
2 Mar 2026, 06:44
Bad #Pronutro
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 😖
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)M
Morné
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
2 Mar 2026, 06:44
Bad #Pronutro
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 😖
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Replies (0)II
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samuel N
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
9 Feb 2026, 17:51
Expired corn flakes an had wevills
I am absolutely dissapointed As I have purchased 2 x 1kg bokomo corn flakes to find out both was expired. I called pioneer foods to report it last week an the agent refused to log a ticket for me qa can also pull the call. I did advise the agent the there was wevills in the cornflakes and had to discard she advised she can't do anything to report but will notify them. I want to take this up a step futher as I'm absolutely dissapointed 💯
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)sN
samuel N
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
9 Feb 2026, 17:51
Expired corn flakes an had wevills
I am absolutely dissapointed As I have purchased 2 x 1kg bokomo corn flakes to find out both was expired. I called pioneer foods to report it last week an the agent refused to log a ticket for me qa can also pull the call. I did advise the agent the there was wevills in the cornflakes and had to discard she advised she can't do anything to report but will notify them. I want to take this up a step futher as I'm absolutely dissapointed 💯
0
Replies (0)AJ
Andre J
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
19 Jan 2026, 20:10
Conned by Pioneer Foods
We bought Spekko Rice in November, and after opening the pack about a week ago we found weevils in an unopened pack of Spekko rice. After contacting "customer care" they had me jump through hoops the give them information only to deny that the fault is with them. They only wasted my time by asking for information, photo, dates. I will NEVER buy Spekko again. They should be ashamed.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)AJ
Andre J
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
19 Jan 2026, 20:10
Conned by Pioneer Foods
We bought Spekko Rice in November, and after opening the pack about a week ago we found weevils in an unopened pack of Spekko rice. After contacting "customer care" they had me jump through hoops the give them information only to deny that the fault is with them. They only wasted my time by asking for information, photo, dates. I will NEVER buy Spekko again. They should be ashamed.
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Replies (0)K
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