PepsiCo has discontinued ProNutro in South Africa with immediate effect, ending the cereal’s 64-year presence on local shelves.
The decision was announced on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, in a statement posted on the ProNutro Facebook page and confirmed by the company. PepsiCo said it had been unable to recreate the taste and texture associated with the original product after changing the manufacturing process earlier this year.
The company said: “For generations, ProNutro has been part of South African homes, family routines and memories. Earlier this year, we introduced New Generation ProNutro to keep the brand available to consumers, while preserving its nutritional benefits and producing it in a more environmentally sustainable way.
“After launch, some consumers told us the new product experience was not what they expected from ProNutro, particularly in relation to taste, texture and mixability. We listened and explored options to bring back the original product experience, but we were unable to recreate the taste and texture consumers associated with the original ProNutro.
“After a long and careful review, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue ProNutro in South Africa. We are grateful for the support consumers have shown the brand over many years.”
Consumers with queries were directed to PepsiCo’s Consumer Care Centre on 0800 212 360 or [email protected].
April 2026 reformulation
The withdrawal follows the April 2026 launch of “New Generation ProNutro”, marketed by Bokomo as “The Original, Pushed Further”.
The new product was presented as still high in energy and plant-based protein, with 13 vitamins and four minerals, and with reduced total sugar. Nutritional information published at the time showed total sugar at 11.9g per 100g, down from 21.6g per 100g in the previous recipe — a reduction of about 45%. The company also said the new texture was intended to allow the product to be eaten as a cereal or mixed into a shake.
Packaging carried a notice that the product had a “New Generation ProNutro taste and texture”. New preparation instructions told consumers to whisk the cereal after adding milk.
The whole-wheat variant was dropped at the same time. PepsiCo said that line had been in long-term sales decline and no longer made commercial sense to produce.
PepsiCo said the change was driven by ageing manufacturing infrastructure and unreliable equipment performance. It said replacing the original machinery on a like-for-like basis would have been cost-prohibitive and would have pushed the retail price beyond what it believed consumers would pay. The company later indicated that a like-for-like replacement of the old line would have added about R25 to a 500g pack.
It also cited sustainability targets linked to the reformulation, including planned reductions of 12.7% in CO₂ emissions, 12.8% in packaging and 6.7% in water use.
PepsiCo said it conducted national consumer testing before launch, involving more than 300 adults in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, split between existing ProNutro users and non-users. Children were not included in the test sample.
After the new product reached shelves, consumers complained that the taste, texture, smell and mixing behaviour were different from the original. Complaints described a finer, lumpier product that did not mix as the old cereal had, and a different aroma when the pack was opened.
PepsiCo later apologised and said it would work on mixability. It also said the fundamental texture would not return to the original. Production was paused while improvements were attempted. By August 2026, major retailers including Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Checkers and SPAR were reporting little or no cereal stock in several provinces, although some ProNutro bars remained available. The brand told consumers they might not see the cereal on shelves for a period while work continued.
Why the original process could not be restored
The original ProNutro was a blend of cooked maize, soya, peanuts and skimmed milk. It was made by roller drying: a slurry was spread onto a scalding, spinning drum and scraped off as a crisp, dry film. The process dates from the 1960s.
PepsiCo said that process was energy-intensive and that the specialised equipment had become obsolete, difficult and expensive to maintain, and increasingly unreliable for consistent quality. It said water and electricity conditions when the process was developed were different from current conditions.
The company said newer, more cost-efficient processes could not reproduce the original taste and texture. It also said the original production process could not simply be transferred to another manufacturer or reproduced elsewhere in the same way, and that there was no clear like-for-like replacement for the original line.
The original machinery has been scrapped. PepsiCo said that after reviewing available options it could not return to the original method in a way that was reliable, affordable for consumers and environmentally responsible.
Food scientist Nigel Sunley, who worked on ProNutro research and development from 1981, later managed the Wadeville plant and consulted on the brand after leaving National Brands, has said his team tested cooker-extruder versions in the 1980s and 1990s. Those trials produced a nutritionally sound product but did not match the original flavour and texture.
PepsiCo said sales of ProNutro had been declining and that it had continued to subsidise the brand for many years.
History and ownership
ProNutro was developed as a high-protein food to address malnutrition. Research was led by Dr Francis Fox of the South African Institute for Medical Research, working with Dr Willem Odendaal and others. It has been described as the world’s first nutraceutical cereal.
It was launched commercially in South Africa in 1962. Early commercial production was associated with Durban company Hind Brothers & Co. Over subsequent decades the brand entered the Bokomo portfolio. National Brands sold its cereals business, including ProNutro, to Bokomo in the late 1990s. Bokomo formed part of Pioneer Foods after the 1997 Bokomo–Sasko merger.
PepsiCo acquired Pioneer Foods in March 2020 in a deal valued at about $1.7 billion, one of PepsiCo’s largest acquisitions outside the United States. Bokomo, including ProNutro, became part of PepsiCo’s South African operations.
Over the years the range included original, chocolate, banana and strawberry flavours. Some earlier variants, including honey melt and whole-wheat honey, were already discontinued before the 2026 withdrawal of the remaining cereal.
Stock still in circulation
Remaining original ProNutro from earlier production has a limited remaining shelf life. The last original batches reach their best-before date in October 2026. The soya flour used in the product has an unstable oil content and is not regarded as suitable to eat beyond about 12 months.
New Generation stock that was already in the retail chain is being cleared as remaining inventory, but PepsiCo has confirmed the brand itself is being discontinued in South Africa and will not be reformulated again for return to the market.
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