Sportmix pet food recalled after fungal toxin reportedly kills dogs
Dec 31, 2020 06:43AM ● By Editor
From the Dayton Daily News - December 30, 2020
Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. is issuing a recall of varieties of Sportmix dog and cat foods after the company received reports of illnesses and deaths in dogs, then tests found elevated levels of aflatoxin in the pet food.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, aflatoxin is produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, the toxin can cause illness and death in pets.
No cat or human illnesses have been reported associated with the food, according to the recall.
The USFDA said symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (a yellowish tint to the eyes, gums or skin due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea.
If your pet shows these signs, contact a veterinarian immediately and provide a full diet history. It may also be helpful to take a picture of the pet food label including the lot number, which will be on the back of the back in a three-line code.
The affected pet food was distributed to online stores and retailers across the country.
Anyone with questions can call Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs at 1-800-474-4163, ext. 455 from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Central Time Monday-Friday, or by email at [email protected].
