The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert, warning pet owners and veterinarian professionals that certain Sportmix brand pet foods “may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin.” This alert was issued after 28 dogs died and 8 became ill after eating the dog food in question. Multiple samples of the product tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture were found to contain inordinate levels of the toxin.
On Wednesday, December 30, the manufacturer of Sportmix, Midwestern Pet Foods Inc., announced it was recalling nine lots of the food. The FDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are jointly working with the manufacturer to ascertain if other products are contaminated. Dr. Amber McCoig, Deputy Director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine Division of Compliance, said, “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.”
Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains, which are commonly used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxin can result in illness.
According to the FDA, “pets are highly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning because, unlike people, who eat a varied diet, pets generally eat the same food continuously over extended periods of time. If a pet’s food contains aflatoxin, the toxin could accumulate in the pet’s system as they continue to eat it” and result in their deaths.
Symptoms include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. In severe cases, this toxicity can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage without showing any symptoms.
The FDA advises pet owners “to stop feeding their pets the recalled products listed below and consult their veterinarian, especially if the pet is showing signs of illness. The pet owner should remove the food and make sure no other animals have access to the recalled product.”
The list of recalled dry pet food products announced by Midwestern Pet Food, Inc., which was sold nationwide, as of December 31, 2020, is:
Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag, Exp 03/02/22/05/L2, Exp 03/02/22/05/L3, Exp 03/03/22/05/L2,
Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag, Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag, Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag, Exp 03/03/22/05/L2, Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
Lot code information may be found on the back of the bag and will appear in a three-line code, with the top line in the format, “EXP 03/03/22/05/L#/B###/HH:MM”
If your pet has symptoms, contact your vet immediately. For further information go to the FDA website at fda.gov.
