10 Brands Of Dog And Cat Foods Are Being Recalled Over Salmonella Fears
Update, March 29, 2021: Midwestern Pet Foods announced a recall that affects 10 of the pet food brands it produces at its Monmouth, IL, Production Facility over fears the foods could be contaminated with salmonella.
The company, which previously issued a separate recall earlier this year, announced the newest recall on Friday; this one affects its CanineX, Earthborn Holistic, Venture, Unrefined, Sportmix Wholesomes, Pro Pac, Pro Pac Ultimates, Sportstrail, Sportmix, and Meridian brands. These products were distributed to retail stores nationwide as well as to online retailers. Affected items from the Monmouth Facility will have an "M" on the date code. You can see the full list of affected products on the recall.
Salmonella infections can cause pets to be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting, according to the FDA, and humans can also be affected by touching the food without thoroughly washing their hands after. No human or pet illnesses have been reported to date in relation to this recall.
If you have any of the affected pet food, you should dispose of it in a way that other pets or wildlife cannot access and sanitize any surfaces it may have touched. You can contact Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs at info@midwesternpetfoods.com or 800-474-4163, ext. 455 for additional information.
Update, January 12, 2021: Following a recall from late December regarding Sportmix pet foods manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, the company has expanded the recall to include other brands in their portfolio. The recall is due to high levels of a toxin called aflatoxin that can cause serious injury and even death in pets.
An updated release by the Food and Drug Administration stated that the recall has been connected to 70 total dog deaths and injury in over 80 pets. At the time of the original recall, 28 deaths were reported. Aflatoxin is produced by a mold that can grow on corn and other grain ingredients, so the recall, which originally only included Sportmix products, now includes any pet foods that were manufactured in the Midwestern Pet Foods Oklahama plant and contain corn. Expiration dates for the recalled items will be on or before July 9, 2022, according to the FDA.
The investigation is ongoing and the FDA stated that the number of cases may not account for all of the cases of injury or death in pets connected to this recall. Along with Sportmix products, the recall now includes Pro Pac and Splash Fat Cat pet foods. An extensive list of products involved along with their codes and expiration dates can be found here.
Original Post, December 31, 2020: The Food and Drug Administration announced a recall on Wednesday of certain pet foods from Sportmix that contain high levels of a toxin. At the time of publication, 28 pet deaths and eight sicknesses have been reported in connection with the recall.
Though the investigation is ongoing, individuals who have purchased Sportmix pet food products should be aware that this brand is linked to the fatalities. The pet food in question was manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods and contains high levels of a toxin called aflatoxin.
According to the FDA's release, aflatoxin is "a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food." In high levels, it can cause harm to pets; symptoms related to the toxin's ingestion include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, and diarrhea. In some cases, it can cause liver damage and can even be fatal.
If you happen to have any Sportmix pet food in your possession, the FDA suggests not feeding it to your pets and consulting a veterinarian if they've ingested it recently. In the organization's recall, they wrote that their investigation is ongoing and that as more information is available, they will update their post. Per the release:
Although this pet food recall is still unfolding, we are sharing the facts we have so far because the levels of aflatoxin found in the recalled pet food are potentially fatal. We are working quickly on this developing situation and will continue to update the public as new information becomes available. This is in service of FDA’s mission to protect human and animal health.
You can find a full list of the affected products here.
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