A pet food company expanded its voluntary recall of several feed products after more than 70 dogs died and another 80 became ill, possibly from ingesting fatal levels of a mold-produced toxin, the Food and Drug Administration said.
The company, Midwestern Pet Foods Inc. of Evansville, Indiana, first issued a voluntary recall in late December, after tests of certain products showed that aflatoxin, which is produced by mold, has exceeded acceptable levels, the FDA said. .
At that time, the FDA was alerted to reports that at least 28 dogs died and eight others became ill after consuming the collected feed.
The expanded recall, which the company announced on Monday, includes additional corn and dry cat food products that expire on or before July 9, 2022.
The FDA said in a statement that it was “issuing this warning to notify the public of the potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins in midwestern pet food products that may still be on store shelves, online or in owners’ homes. “.
Products include Sportmix, Pro Pac Originals, Splash, Sportstrail and Nunn Better dry dog and cat food, which Midwestern Pet Foods produces in Oklahoma and distributes nationally in retail and online stores.
Retailers were instructed not to sell or donate the collected products and to contact customers who purchased the products, if possible.
“As a fourth generation family business, Midwestern Pet Foods is committed to ensuring that our products are safe and nutritious for almost 100 years,” the company said in a statement. “Until recently, throughout our long history, we have never had a product recall.”
The company said it was expanding the recall “for the sake of caution”. The FDA said its investigation is ongoing and that not all suspected cases of aflatoxin poisoning have been confirmed through laboratory tests.
Aflatoxin is produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and grains used as ingredients in pet food, the FDA said. At high levels, the toxin can cause pets to become sick or die, or cause liver damage without symptoms, the department said. The toxin, he said, may still be present even if there is no visible mold.
Signs of aflatoxin poisoning in a pet can include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or diarrhea, the FDA said.
Although no disease has been reported in humans or cats, and there is no evidence that pet owners who handle food with aflatoxin are at risk of poisoning, the FDA has suggested that they wash their hands after handling their pets’ food.