What to know about the FDA

The FDA recalled several lots of a popular brand of pet food after at least 28 dogs died of suspected aflatoxin poisoning.

Here is the information from the FDA:

December 30, 2020, Midwestern Pet Food, Inc. announced a recall of certain Sportmix animal feed lots products after the FDA was alerted to at least 28 dogs that died and eight that became ill after consuming the recalled Sportmix pet food. Several product samples have been tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and found to contain very high levels of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by mold Aspergillus flavus and at high levels, it can cause illness and death in pets. The toxin may be present even if there is no visible mold.

The FDA is issuing this advisory to educate the public about potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin in pet food products that may still be on store shelves, online, or in the homes of pet owners.

The FDA conducts follow-up activities in the manufacturing plant.

This is a developing situation and the FDA will update this page with additional information as it becomes available.

Pets are very susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning because, unlike people who eat a varied diet, animals generally eat the same food continuously over long periods of time. If an animal’s food contains aflatoxin, the toxin could build up in the animal’s system as it continues to eat the same food.

Pets poisoned with aflatoxin may show symptoms such as laziness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tinge of the eyes, gums or skin due to liver damage) and / or diarrhea. In some cases, this toxicity can lead to long term liver problems and / or death. Some animals suffer from liver damage without showing symptoms. Pet owners whose pets have eaten the recalled products should contact their veterinarian, especially if they show signs of illness.

There is no evidence to suggest that pet owners who handle products containing aflatoxin are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning. However, pet owners should always wash their hands after handling pet food.

On December 30, 2020, Midwest Pet Food, Inc. announced a recall of a total of nine lots of Sportmix pet food products. The FDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are working with the company to determine if additional products may have been made with the same ingredients containing potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin. As new information becomes available, this list of products may continue to grow.

The list of recalled dry pet foods announced by Midwestern Pet Food, Inc. on December 30, 2020 is as follows:

• 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 03/02/22/05 / L3 Sportmix Premium High Energy, 50 lb bag Exp 03/03/22/05 / L3
• Sportmix Premium High Energy, 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 can 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 “

Do not sell or give away the affected animal feed. Contact the manufacturer for more information. The FDA also encourages retailers to contact consumers who have purchased recalled products, if they can afford to do so (for example, through buyer’s card records or point-of-sale signs).

If your pet exhibits symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, contact a veterinarian immediately. Even animals without symptoms may have suffered liver damage, so you may want to contact your veterinarian if your dog has eaten any of the recalled products. Provide a complete feeding history to your veterinarian. You may find it helpful to take a photo of the pet food label, including the lot number.

Do not pass the recalled products on to your pets or any other animal. Contact the company listed on the package for further instructions or dispose of the products in such a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them. Sanitize pet food storage bowls, spoons, and containers with bleach, then rinse thoroughly with water and dry thoroughly.

There is no evidence to suggest that pet owners who handle products containing aflatoxin are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning. However, pet owners should always wash their hands after handling feed.

You can report a suspected illness to the FDA electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaints Coordinators. It is very helpful that you can work with your vet to submit your pet’s medical records as part of your report. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be useful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.