More than two dozen dogs died after eating specific batches of Sportmix pet food that potentially contained deadly aflatoxin levels, the Food and Drug Administration said this week.
Midwestern Pet Foods, manufacturer of Indiana-based Sportmix, issued a voluntary recall specific types of dog and cat food that contained high levels of aflatoxin, a toxin produced by Aspergillus flavus mold that at high levels can cause illness and potentially death in pets. Although the FDA claims that no incidents involving humans or cats have been reported, eight dogs fell ill and at least 28 died after eating some types of Sportmix feed.
The FDA said there is no evidence to support the notion that pet owners who handle toxic food are at risk of falling ill – pets get sick from eating food over time – but the agency added that it usually they should be concerned with washing their hands after handling pet food anyway.
This week, four batches of Sportmix dog food and two additional batches of Sportmix cat food were collected. The codes for pet food considered toxic are as follows:
- 50 # Sportmix Energy Plus Lots Exp 03/02/22/05 / L2, 03/02/22/05 / L3, 03/03/22/05 / L2
- 44 # Sportmix Energy Plus Lots 03/02/22/05 / L3
- 50 # High Energy Sportmix Premium Lots 03/03/22/05 / L3
- 44 # High Energy Sportmix Premium Lots 03/03/22/05 / L3
- 31 # Sportmix Original Cat Lots 03/03/22/05 / L3
- 15 # Sportmix Original Cat Lots 03/03/22/05 / L2, 03/03/22/05 / L3
The FDA said the situation is “evolving”, adding that it continues its activities where the food was manufactured.
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Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of interest in food or yellowing of the eyes, gums or skin as a result of jaundice, although the agency says it is possible for pets to suffer liver damage without showing unusual symptoms . The agency is advising anyone who suspects that their pet has been exposed to the toxic food to contact their veterinarian as soon as possible and report suspected cases to the FDA through their complaints portal.
Retailers are being advised to remove specific food lots from shelves and pet owners are being asked to remove any specific products from the remaining lots they may have in their homes in order to prevent pets from accessing, children or wild animals. In addition, all feed bowls and storage containers must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.