A pet food company expanded its voluntary recall of several dry food products after more than 70 dogs died and 80 more became ill, possibly due to ingestion of deadly amounts of a toxin produced by mold, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Midwestern Pet Foods Inc. of Evansville, Indiana, first issued a voluntary recall in late December after testing certain products showed that aflatoxin, made by mold, exceeded acceptable levels, according to the FDA.
At this point, the FDA was made aware of reports that at least 28 dogs had died and eight more had become ill after consuming the recalled pet food.
The expanded recall, which the company announced on Monday, includes additional corn dry and cat food products that expire on or before July 9, 2022.
The FDA said in a statement that it “issued this advisory to educate the public about the potentially deadly aflatoxin levels in Midwestern pet food products that may still be on store shelves, online, or in pet owners’ homes.”
Products include Sportmix, Pro Pac Originals, Splash, Sportstrail, and Nunn Better dry dog and cat food, which Midwestern Pet Foods produces in Oklahoma and sells in retail stores and online nationwide.
Retailers were instructed not to sell or donate the recalled products and, whenever possible, to reach out to customers who had purchased the products.
“As a fourth-generation family business, Midwestern Pet Foods has been committed to ensuring that our products have been safe and nutritious for nearly 100 years,” said a company statement. “Until recently, in our long history, we have never had a product recall.”
The company said it would extend the recall “out of caution”. The FDA said its investigation was still ongoing and not all suspected cases of aflatoxin poisoning had been confirmed by laboratory tests.
Aflatoxin is made by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and grains that are used as ingredients in pet foods, according to the FDA. In high concentrations, the toxin can cause pets to get sick or die, or cause liver damage with no symptoms, the department said. The toxin could still be present even if no mold was visible.
Signs of aflatoxin poisoning in a pet could include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, or diarrhea, according to the FDA.
While no disease has been reported in humans or cats, and there is no evidence that pet owners handling feed containing aflatoxin are at risk of poisoning, the FDA suggested that they wash their hands after handling their pet’s feed .
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