The foods containing the toxin have been identified as certain Sportmix products manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods. The products were voluntarily recalled by the company on Wednesday.
The FDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are working with the manufacturer to determine if more products contain the toxin. The FDA said the investigation was continuing and that the “scope of the recall could expand as new information became available.”
Aflatoxin is produced by the Aspergillus flavus form, the FDA said. It can grow on grains used as ingredients in pet food, and when consumed high in aflatoxin, it can cause disease or death in pets.
Pets poisoned by aflatoxin can show symptoms that include lethargy, jaundice – a yellowish tint in the eyes or gums caused by liver damage – loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, according to the FDA.
Even if a pet shows no symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, the FDA recommends that pet owners who have pets who have eaten the products in question should contact their veterinarian as it may cause long-term liver damage.
Although the FDA says there is no evidence that pet owners handling the food in question are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning, it recommends that they always wash their hands after handling pet food.
The following dry pet foods are marked for recall:
Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 pound bag
- Exp 03/02/22/05 / L2
- Exp 03/02/22/05 / L3
- Exp 03/03/22/05 / L2
Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 pound bag
Sportmix Premium 50 Pound High Energy Bag
Sportmix Premium High Energy Bag of 44 pounds
Sportmix Original Cat, 31 pound bag
Sportmix Original Cat, bag of 15 pounds
- Exp 03/03/22/05 / L2
- Exp 03/03/22/05 / L3