The food containing the toxin has been identified as certain Sportmix products manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods. The products were collected voluntarily by the company on Wednesday.
The FDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are working with the manufacturer to determine whether more products contain high levels of the toxin. The FDA said the investigation is ongoing and “the scope of the recall could expand as new information becomes available.”
Aflatoxin is produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, the FDA said. It can grow on grains used as ingredients in pet food and, when high levels of aflatoxin are consumed, it can cause illness or death in pets.
Aflatoxin-poisoned pets may experience symptoms that include sluggishness, jaundice – a yellowish hue in the eyes or gums caused by liver damage – loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, according to the FDA.
Even if a pet is not exhibiting any symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, the FDA recommends that pet owners who have eaten the affected products contact their veterinarian – as this can cause liver damage in the long run.
Although the FDA says there is no evidence that pet owners who have handled the affected food are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning, it recommends that they always wash their hands after handling the food.
The following dry pet foods have been flagged for recall:
Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 pound bag
- Exp. 2/3/22/05 / L2
- Exp 03/02/22/05 / L3
- Exp. 03/03/22/05 / L2
Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 pound bag
Sportmix Premium High Energy, 50 pound bag
Sportmix Premium High Energy, 44 pound bag
Sportmix Original Cat, 31 pound bag
Sportmix Original Cat, 15 pound bag
- Exp. 03/03/22/05 / L2
- Exp. 03/03/22/05 / L3