Midwestern Pet Foods is expanding a recall to include several other products sold under its Sportmix brand and other labels after at least 70 dogs died and 80 others became ill, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday.
The food was found to have potentially dangerous levels of aflatoxins, a by-product of mold, and the company is expanding its voluntary pet food recall issued on December 30.
“On January 11, 2021, the FDA is aware of more than 70 pets that have died and more than 80 pets that are sick after eating Sportmix feed,” the agency said.
Midwestern Pet Foods is expanding a recall to include several other products sold under its Sportmix brand (pictured) and other labels after at least 70 dogs died and 80 others became ill, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday. .
Aflatoxin can grow on corn and other grains used in pet food, according to the FDA. At high levels, it can cause illness and death.
The Evansville, Indiana-based company, which has been family owned since 1926, said in a statement that until recently it had never recalled products.
The product recall includes Midwestern brands Sportmix, Pro Pac Originals, Splash, Sportstrail and Nunn Better dry dog and cat food produced at its Oklahoma plant, the company said.
“We continue a thorough review of our facilities and practices in full cooperation with the FDA in an effort to better serve our customers and parents of pets who have placed their trust in us,” said the company.
The FDA said the actual number of dead and sick animals may not be reflected in their count.
The agency said it “continues to work with veterinarians and state partners to monitor suspected cases of aflatoxin poisoning.”
Earlier this month, a pet owner said she believes her dog (pictured) may have died from eating Sportmix. ‘My Junior was completely healthy before he died’, wrote the woman, adding that her dog ‘was jaundiced’ when she took him to the vet
FDA tests carried out on several food line samples carried out by the Missouri Department of Agriculture revealed very high levels of aflatoxin, which is produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used to make feed. Pets
FDA tests carried out on several food line samples carried out by the Missouri Department of Agriculture revealed very high levels of aflatoxin, which is produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used to make feed. Pets .
High levels of the toxin – which can be present in food even if there is no visible mold – can cause illness and death in pets, the FDA said.
As pets continually eat the same food for long periods, they are particularly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning, which can accumulate in the animal’s body.
Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning in pets include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice and / or diarrhea. Some pets can also suffer liver damage without showing any symptoms.
The initial recall notice prompted people on social media to wonder if feeding their dogs branded food could have caused their pets’ recent deaths.
‘I was getting this dog food for my dog and she passed away,’ wrote one Facebook user, while another noted that his ‘Rottweiler’ passed away 3 weeks ago, out of nowhere, he was a very healthy dog. ‘
Earlier this month, a pet owner said he believes his dog may have died from eating Sportmix.
‘Sportmix has just collected his food, 28 dogs have died and 8 are sick because of it. I believe that the death of my little boy may have contributed to this, but I am waiting to speak with my veterinarian to see what his blood showed, ‘wrote the woman.
‘My Junior was completely healthy before he died. In June I thought he was constipated (on a Saturday) and took him to the vet the following Monday. A few minutes after my vet saw him, they told me that I needed to take him to an emergency vet right away. He was jaundiced.
“We went straight to the vet and they did blood and ultrasound tests. They linked with the most horrible results, liver disease, kidney failure, inoperable. She recited some things with her blood, but those [are] a blur, ‘she continued.
“He showed no signs of anything wrong with him, except for what appeared to be constipation. He was too sick to do any kind of operation and the vet said that even if they tried, there was a minimal chance of zero for him to recover.
‘I would have paid anything to help him, and for a moment, we considered the $ 17,000 estimate, but the doctor didn’t seem hopeful and suggested we reconsider and we did. It was the most difficult day of our lives, ‘she said in the post.
The FDA said there is no evidence to suggest that pet owners who handle food containing aflatoxin are at risk for aflatoxin poisoning. However, the organization said it is a good idea to wash your hands after touching the feed.