Unique Quality Products
Recalled Pet Food Sold Nationwide Could Be Linked To Hundreds Of Deaths And Illnesses
Shopify API
According to the Food and Drug Administration, a warning letter was sent to Midwestern Pet Foods regarding "the presence of the potentially deadly hazard of aflatoxin."
[sc name="content-ad-horiz-1"]
The FDA noted that the company could be responsible for more than 130 dog deaths and hundreds of illnesses.
Photo: Unsplash/Dominik QN
The director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine said in a statement: "The FDA is dedicated to taking all steps possible to help pet owners have confidence that the food they buy for their animal companions is safe and wholesome. We are issuing this corporate-wide warning letter because inspections of Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc.’s manufacturing plants revealed evidence of violations, which were shared across multiple plants and were associated with the illness or death of hundreds of pets who had eaten the company’s dry dog food."
[sc name="content-ad-horiz-2"]
The report noted that Sportmix cat and dog food products “were found to contain high levels of aflatoxin." Those toxins were the result of the mold Aspergillus flavus found on corn used in the pet food.
Photo: Max Pixel
20 parts per billion of aflatoxin are considered safe for consumption and the Sportmix dry dog food was found to have as many as 558 parts per billion.
[sc name="content-ad-horiz-3"]
According to Michigan's Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, symptoms of aflatoxin in pets include, "sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, and/or diarrhea." They noted that in some cases, the toxin can cause liver damage but no noticeable symptoms will be present. High levels of the toxins can be fatal.
The poisonings come after the company issued a voluntary recall back in March due to salmonella concerns. However, no illnesses or deaths were reported at that time - but the contaminated foods were still being sold nationwide.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Sadly, this isn't the first time Midwestern Pet Foods' products have resulted in injury or death. Back in January, the company was forced to recall products after 70 dogs died in association with the food, and in December 2020, the FDA announced the death of at least 28 dogs associated with their products.
[sc name="content-ad-horiz-4"]
Inspections have found evidence of "significant violations" in food safety.