April 7, 2019 — Thogersen Family Farm of Stanwood, WA is voluntarily recalling raw frozen ground pet food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
What’s Recalled?
The following 2-pound packaged varieties are included in this recall:
Coarse ground rabbit frozen raw pet food
Coarse ground mallard duck frozen raw pet food
Ground llama frozen raw pet food
Ground pork frozen raw pet food
Recalled product labels did not contain any lot identification, batch codes, or expiration dates.
Products were packaged in 2-pound flattened, rectangular clear plastic packages and stored frozen.
The front of each package contains one large white square label with the company name, product type and weight.
About Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Listeria monocytogenes infections can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should immediately contact a health care provider.
Pets with Listeria monocytogenes infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.
Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.
If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Recalled product labels did not contain any lot identification, batch codes, or expiration dates. Products were packaged in two pound flattened, rectangular clear plastic packages and stored frozen.
The front of the package contains one large white square label with the company name, product type and weight.
Where Was It Sold?
Thogersen Family Farm stated the affected products were either sold to individual customers or two retail establishments that have been notified.
Some of the product has not been distributed and held at the manufacturing location.
What Caused the Recall?
The recall is the result of samples collected by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and revealed the finished products contained the bacteria.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
What to Do?
Consumers who have purchased affected product should discontinue use.
For questions, consumers may contact the company at 360-929-9808.
U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Shocking test results provided in a new consumer lawsuit against Taste of the Wild pet food.
A lawsuit against Diamond Pet Food’s Taste of the Wild brand was filed in Illinois on 2/28/2019 claiming the pet food was “negligent, reckless, and/or intentional practice of misrepresenting, failing to test for, and failing to fully disclose the risk and/or presence of heavy metals, toxins, Bisphenol A (“BPA”).”
This lawsuit is similar to many other recent pet food lawsuits with the exception of one significant thing. Test results of Taste of the Wild Grain Free Southwest Canyon Canine Recipe with Wild Boar Dry Dog Food found “12,200 mcg/kg” of lead in the dog food.
How dangerous is 12,200 mcg/kg lead?
Quoting the lawsuit, “one of the Contaminated Dog Foods tested higher than most homes in Flint Michigan: “In Flint, the amount of lead found in in residents’ water since the crisis erupted has varied from house to house with many showing no detectable levels of lead. At a few homes, lead levels reached 4,000 ppb to nearly 12,000 ppb.”
The FDA says the following about lead in food for humans:
The FDA assesses whether the amount of lead in a food product is high enough to raise a person’s blood lead level to a point of concern. To do this, the agency establishes a maximum daily intake for lead, called the Interim Reference Level (IRL). In determining the IRL, the FDA takes into account the amount of a particular food a person would need to consume daily, as well as other factors, that would result in blood lead levels of of 5mcg per deciliter, the level at which the CDC recommends clinical monitoring of lead exposure in children. The FDA has established the current IRL at 3 mcg per day for children and 12.5 mcg per day for adults.
How much lead per day is a dog eating of 12,200 mcg/kg?
Per the Taste of the Wild website, recommended feeding for a 30 pound dog is two cups a day. Two cups of the tested dog food would mean a 30 pound dog is consuming 2,440 mcg of lead per day. Comparing side by side the FDA daily maximum level of lead in food for an adult human to the daily amount a 30 pound dog would consume of the tested Taste of the Wild dog food:
Side by side – the human food maximum established by FDA is barely measurable compared to the lead found in the Taste of the Wild dog food (per the lawsuit).
But…
The level of lead considered risk in pet food is completely different than in human food. Remember, pet food is regulated as ‘feed’, not as ‘food’. Everything ‘feed’ is different.
The FDA or AAFCO has not established a legal maximum of lead in pet food. Instead, regulatory authorities refer to a 14 year old publication from the National Research Council (NRC); 2005 Mineral Tolerance for Animals. The NRC has not established a specific maximum ‘tolerance’ level for cats – but makes this statement regarding dogs: “Rats and dogs tolerate 10 mg lead/kg diet without changes in functional indices in hematopoiesis or kidney function.”
Based on the 14 year old information from NRC (and converting mg/kg to mcg/kg), a ‘safe’ (maximum tolerance) level of lead for a 30 pound dog would be 2,000 mcg per day. Remember – a human adult maximum tolerance level of lead is 12.5 mcg per day – a 30 pound dog maximum is 2,000 mcg lead per day. Comparing all three stats side by side – the FDA daily maximum level of lead in food for an adult, the daily amount a 30 pound dog would consume of the tested Taste of the Wild dog food, and the maximum level of lead per day the NRC believes is safe for a 30 pound dog to consume:
Even though the NRC safe level of lead is significantly higher than the FDA maximum lead level of food for humans, the The Taste of the Wild dog food tested in this lawsuit is STILL above the National Research Council level.
Click Here to read the lawsuit against Taste of the Wild.
If you have concerns that your dog (or cat) was exposed to high levels of lead, please contact your veterinarian.
If you have concerns that there are no legal maximum level of lead established for pet food, please contact your State Department of Agriculture and the FDA.
Become a member of our pet food consumer Association.Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com
The 2019 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition is facing a slew of consumer lawsuits linked to their January 2019 excess Vitamin D recalls.
Filed on February 26, 2019 in the Central District of California, pet owners versus Hill’s Pet Nutrition; a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit states they bring this suit against Hill’s for (bold added):
“their negligent, reckless, and/or intentional practice of misrepresenting, failing to test for, and failing to fully disclose the presence of toxic levels of Vitamin D in their Contaminated Dog Foods (defined below) and for selling Contaminated Dog Foods that are adulterated and do not conform to the labels, packaging, advertising, and statements throughout the United States.”
This particular lawsuit asks that Hill’s Pet Nutrition be required to test “all ingredients and final products for such substances” (such as excess Vitamin D) and asks for pet owner financial relief in the same amount Hill’s offered veterinariansin a previous announcement; “offer Plaintiff and the proposed class $500 vouchers for each can of Contaminated Food as they have offered veterinarians and (iv) restoring monies to the members of the proposed Class.”
This lawsuit quotes several claims from the Hill’s website including these two (that the recall proved are not accurate claims):
(g) “We conduct final safety checks daily on every Hill’s pet food
product to help ensure the safety of your pet’s food.”
(h) “Additionally, all finished products are physically inspected and
tested for key nutrients prior to release to help ensure your pet gets a consistent product bag to bag.”
The lawsuit also includes a quote from the FDA alert on the many excess Vitamin D recalls; (bold added for emphasis) “Vitamin D, when consumed at very high levels, can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction.”
Represented (among others) in this lawsuit is the owner of “Taki, a chihuahua mix” who consumed the toxic Hill’s dog food starting in November of 2018. Taki died of renal failure in February 2019.
In another of the seven lawsuits filed against Hill’s – Stella, a dachshund rescue from Florida – consumed just six cans of Hill’s i/d dog food. On January 26, 2019 she was in total kidney failure and had to be euthanized.
Another lawsuit appears to say that Hill’s had a Vitamin D problem much earlier and in their dry dog foods (similar to the excess Vitamin D recalls of other brands previous to Hill’s recall); (bold added) “As a result of online consumer complaints, Hill’s thus knew or should have known of the elevated vitamin D levels in the Specialty Dog Foods by at least February of 2018.”
In the lawsuit quoted above, Duncan – a seizure alert trained service dog – died on January 12, 2019. Taco died on January 24, 2019. Lily died on November 27, 2019.
All of the above heart breaking pet deaths are just a tiny glimpse into the destruction this toxic pet food caused.
To read other lawsuits filed against Hill’s Pet Nutrition (regarding the excess Vitamin D):
The price a pet food manufacturer pays for NOT properly testing ingredients: 7 class action lawsuits.
The price a pet owner pays for a reckless manufacturer that doesn’t properly test ingredients: painful illness and death of their pet.
Nothing has changed since the 2007 pet food recall. In 2007, Hill’s issued 3 recalls for melamine contaminated pet food. No pet food manufacturer in 2007 bothered to test or validate the quality of vegetable protein ingredients (such as wheat gluten) in advance of using those ingredients in their pet foods. Those ingredients were later found to be contaminated with melamine – responsible for killing thousands of dogs and cats. Fast forward 12 years, AGAIN – Hill’s did not test ingredients or validate ingredient quality.
How many pet’s have to die until each and every pet food manufacturer tests and validates the quality of ingredients?
Become a member of our pet food consumer Association.Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com
The 2019 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.
We have mentioned recalls for foods that contain potentially dangerous levels of vitamin D a couple of times in the past few months (here and here). Recently, the recall expanded to include a company that one doesn’t ordinarily think of as being prone to serious formulation errors: Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
A little background: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the public that several dry dog foods were being recalled after dogs who ate the foods experienced vitamin D toxicity; these symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, weight loss, and hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood, which can result in kidney stones and the calcification of organs like the heart and kidneys) – and at worst, kidney failure and death. Testing found that the foods contained excessive, potentially toxic levels of vitamin D.
The dry dog foods in question were made by a contract manufacturer – a “co-packer” that makes products for several pet food companies. It became clear relatively quickly that the vitamin premix used by the co-packer in a number of foods supplied excessive amounts of vitamin D. Some test results indicated that some of the foods made with the vitamin premix contained as much as 70 times the intended amount of vitamin D! However, the FDA did not report any dog deaths, only illnesses, related to these recalls.
Rather vexing to us: Neither the companies whose products had to be recalled nor the FDA disclosed either the name of the co-packer or the name of the vitamin premix supplier.
Then, in late January, Hills Pet Nutrition announced its own vitamin D-related recall – in this case, involving some of its canned dog foods. According to Hill’s, only canned dog foods (no treats, dry dog foods, or cat foods) are involved, and there is no connection between the earlier recalls of other companies’ dry dog foods and the Hill’s recall. Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn, chief professional veterinary officer at Hill’s U.S., told VIN News Service, “Our supplier is a well-known supplier based in the U.S. We’re really not aware if there’s any relationship with other brands recalled in December.”
Hill’s declined to disclose the name of its vitamin supplier.
Though Hill’s has not yet acknowledged or admitted that any dogs have died as a result of vitamin D toxicity from its foods, five separate lawsuits have already been filed against Hill’s, with four of them alleging that the plaintiffs’ dogs died or were euthanized due to severe illness following the consumption of a Hill’s canned food. One of the suits alleges that Hill’s knew about the elevated levels of vitamin D in certain canned foods months prior to the recall.
My Dog Food Recall Takeaways:
If you have fed any of the recalled foods to your dog (list of recalled foods to date is here), or if your dog shows any signs of vitamin D toxicity (vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, weight loss, hypercalcemia, kidney failure), stop feeding the food and take your dog to see his veterinarian right away.
Any time your dog becomes ill, changing his food to a different company’s product right away seems like a prudent precaution. No pet food company is immune to production or formulation errors, especially with pet foods containing so many ingredients from so many different suppliers.
Make a point to report any sudden or unexpected serious illness to the maker of your dog’s food and to the FDA. The March issue of WDJ explains how and why to make these adverse event reports.
A lot happened in pet food this year. Sadly, mostly bad news. Here is a review of pet food for 2018.
January 2018
In early January of 2018, we learned that industry hired a representative who submitted a proposal to AAFCO hoping to weaken the legal requirements of a human grade pet food. No decision has been made by AAFCO at year’s end.
January also gave us some misleading marketing published by Purina; highlighting the serious need for pet owners to have public access to pet food ingredient definitions.
February 2018 brought news of more pentobarbital in pet food. Washington DC television station WJLA News tested 62 samples of dog food. “After months of tests and re-tests, one brand repeatedly came back positive for pentobarbital. In total, we tested 15 cans of Gravy Train. Nine cans — 60-percent of the sample — were positive for pentobarbital.” And following the news of pentobarbital in Gravy Train, a class action lawsuit was filed against manufacturer Big Heart Brands/J.M. Smucker.
In February, TruthaboutPetFood.com provided a comparison to FDA’s handling of a kibble recall to a raw recall proving absolute bias by the agency.
We provided an in-depth look into the ‘Complete and Balanced’ pet food regulations – proving existing regulations could cause nutrient deficiency in pets.
In March of 2018, a pet owner who lives across the street from a rendering facility provided us with horrific pictures of what FDA considers pet ‘food’.
The State of Ohio stepped up in a big way in March of 2018 – with Representative Laura Lanese submitting a bill requiring pet food to be free from any euthanized animal including dogs and cats used as a pet food ingredient. Ohio is the first state to do this!
We learned from a concerned veterinarian that FDA does little to require pet foods to update labels after any ingredient change is made in that pet food. FDA told this veterinarian that pet food “firms should update labels as soon as practical. The FDA does not provide a set timeframe.”
In March of 2018, TruthaboutPetFood.com explained the ‘False Friends’ of pet food labels(misleading information on pet food labels and websites due to pet owners having no public access to pet food ingredient definitions). Also, TruthaboutPetFood.com explained how FDA ignores the risk of dead bacteria on pet food ingredients (ignores the certain risk of endotoxins).
In March of 2018 we learned some good (great) news too. Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib published the ground-breaking documentary The Dog Cancer Series. Here is a clip from the film:
Recalls in March 2018
Blue Ridge Beef raw pet food – Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
The FDA has informed J.M. Smucker that the firm’s previous action to withdraw products from the marketplace is now reclassified as a recall. Pentobarbital.
Blue Ridge Beef raw pet food – Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
April 2018A
In April of 2018 we learned just how deadly grains in pet food could be. A survey of mycotoxin risks of grain ingredients in North America found 80% of grain samples tested contained two dangerous mycotoxins.
FDA issued a Warning Letter to Darwin’s Pet Food that proved the agency enforces with a double standard – raw pet food is held to food law, all other styles of pet food are held to inferior ‘feed’ laws.
OC Raw Dog, LLC treat – fish have exceeded the FDA compliance guideline for fish larger than 5 inches.
May 2018
May of 2018 Amazon introduced their own pet food line. But – Amazon could not provide answers to basic questions of their new products. Also in May, we learned that industry events are talking about us…
That’s a picture of TruthaboutPetFood.com from a presentation at Pet Food Forum.
May 2018 introduced us to Maria – a pet owner in Australia that stands on street corners day after day trying to educate fellow pet owners to the conditions of pet food.
We also learned that Wilbur-Ellis – a pet feed ingredient supplier pleaded guilty to “substituting lower-cost ingredients for premium, more expensive chicken and turkey meal”.
Recalls in May 2018
Merrick Pet Care treat – elevated levels of a naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormone.
13 billion pounds cattle material, an equal 13 billion pounds of illegal poultry material and another 13 billion pounds of illegal pig material is also allowed to be processed into pet feed/animal feed for a grand illegal total of 40 billion pounds a year.
Radagast Pet Food raw pet food – Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O121.
September 2018
September was full of bad news for pet owners. We learned that a licensed “dead animal hauler“ (that picks up euthanized animals) is also a pet food manufacturer.
We learned that FDA told an industry audience pentobarbital in pet food is more of a problem than they realized; “new evidence suggests that the problem may be more pervasive than originally thought.” In a later update to pet owners about the risk of pentobarbital in pet food, FDA said they just don’t have the money to enforce law; “Due to competing priorities and resource limitations, government agencies cannot act against every violation of the law.”
In September of 2018 we learned that FDA is ONLY working with Big Pet Feed to aid in the investigation of Grain-Free pet food link to canine heart disease. This website sent multiple requests to FDA on how pet owners can help – all were ignored. Scientists aiding in the investigation continue to provide misleading information to pet owners claiming “Grains have not been linked to any health problems except in the very rare situation when a pet has an allergy to a specific grain.” They ignored the certain risk of mycotoxins.
October 2018 brought devastating news to pet owners. The pet food safety laws that were written to prevent another deadly recall like the one in 2007 were simply erased from record by Congress. In November – listed below – we learned the name of the one Senator that destroyed pet food safety.
We learned that a raw pet food manufacturer was forced to close its doors due to multiple recalls. Those recalls were obtained by Ohio and Colorado Department of Agricultureignoring their own regulations on testing and obtaining pet food samples.
Colorado Department of Agriculture took samples from a pet store of frozen pet food (in July) and did not place those frozen samples in a cooler. Instead, the agency placed frozen pet food on the car seat – unprotected from the July heat.
We learned that an ingredient supplier (Wilbur-Ellis – mentioned in May above) was fined more than $7 Million for knowingly selling adulterated pet food ingredients.
In October of 2018, we asked FDA for a public meeting with pet owners. FDA didn’t respond until December stating “Over the past few months, we have received several similar requests for meetings. We are currently considering how best to accommodate all the requests we have received. ” FDA promised to provide us information on our meeting “early in the New Year“.
And in October of 2018 we learned worldwide pet food sales have dropped $2.7 billion dollars in the last two years.
And in November of 2018 we learned that it was Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky that intentionally introduced an addendum to a bill that destroyed pet food safety.
In December we received a Freedom of Information Act request that appeared to show Champion Pet Food purchased their fat ingredient from the same supplier as Gravy Train Pet Food.
What a year it has been. Here’s hoping 2019 will bring improved (and consistent) enforcement of law in pet food. Here’s hoping for more good news in 2019 than bad.
My thanks to all that support TruthaboutPetFood.com each year – year after year. Happy New Year to all.
Columbia River Natural Pet Foods of Vancouver, WA is voluntarily recalling 933 packages of Cow Pie fresh frozen meats for dogs and cats, produced in August 2017, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes may affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to this product.
Listeriamonocytogenes can be pathogenic to humans. Listeriamonocytogenes is one of the leading causes of human death from foodborne illness. Healthy people infected with Listeria monocytogenes should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, aches, fever, and diarrhea. Listeriamonocytogenes infections can also spread through the bloodstream to the nervous system (including the brain), resulting in meningitis and other potentially fatal problems. Pregnant women are more susceptible to Listeria infection, which can result in abortion. The young, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems also are more vulnerable. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Although uncommon, pets with Listeria monocytogenes infections may display symptoms such as mild to severe diarrhea, anorexia, fever, nervous, muscular and respiratory signs, abortion, depression, shock, and death. Animals that recover may become carriers and serve as potential sources of infection to other animals. In addition to the possibility of becoming sick, such infected animals can shed Listeriamonocytogenes through their feces onto their coats and into the home environment and thus serve as sources of infection to humans and other animals in the household. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Cow Pie is a fresh frozen meats product intended to feed raw to dogs and cats. Cow Pie was distributed in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington through retail stores and direct delivery. The product comes frozen in 2 lbs. purple and white plastic bags, with Lot 81917 (processed on August 19, 2017) found on an orange sticker.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the Washington State Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in one package.
Consumers who have purchased 2 lbs. packages of Cow Pie, with the affected lot 81917, should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-360-834-6854, Monday-Friday, from 8 am-4 pm PST.
Natural Life Pet Products of Saint Louis, Missouri is voluntarily recalling our Chicken & Potato dry dog food (described below) due to it containing elevated levels of Vitamin D.
17.5 lbs. Natural Life Chicken & Potato Dry Dog Food
Bag UPC: 0-12344-08175-1
Bags affected have a Best By Date code of May 29, 2020 through August 10, 2020. The Best By Date code can be found on the back or bottom of each bag.
The products were distributed to retail stores in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and California.
Natural Life Pet Products became aware of the elevated levels of vitamin D after receiving complaints from three pet owners of vitamin D toxicity after consuming the product. An investigation revealed a formulation error led to the elevated vitamin D in the product.
Consumers should stop feeding the product listed above. Dogs ingesting elevated levels of Vitamin D may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. Vitamin D when consumed at very high levels can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction. Consumers with dogs who have consumed the product listed above and are exhibiting these symptoms, should contact their veterinarian.
Consumers who have purchased the product affected by this recall should dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers with questions may contact Natural Life Pet Products at (888) 279-9420 from 8 AM to 5 PM Central Standard time, Monday through Friday, or by email at consumerservices@nutrisca.com for more information.
This is a voluntary recall and is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
We genuinely regret that this has occurred as we place the highest priority on the health of pets.
October 24, 2018 — G & C Raw of Versailles, Ohio, is recalling all products lots manufactured from February 27, 2018 through July 20, 2018, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Affected products are sold under the brand names G & C Raw Dog Food and G & C Raw Cat Food and sold through direct distribution to customers.
Product Image
No product images have been provided by either the company or the Food and Drug Administration.
About Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in animals eating the products.
Furthermore, there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Listeria monocytogenes should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, aches, fever, and diarrhea.
Listeria monocytogenes infections can cause serious andsometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Listeria monocytogenes infections are rare, and pets may display symptoms such as mild to severe diarrhea, anorexia, fever, nervous, muscular and respiratory signs, abortion, depression, shock, and death.
In addition to the possibility of becoming sick, such infected animals can shed Listeria monocytogenes through their feces onto their coats and into the home environment and thus serve as sources of infection to humans and other animals in the household.
If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Where Was Product Distributed?
Recalled products were distributed by direct delivery and may have been sent to the following states:
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Michigan
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
What’s Being Recalled?
The manufacture dates are included at the end of the lot number.
For example, the pet food product manufactured on February 27, 2018 has a lot code of that ends with 022718.
The company is now recalling all products with lot numbers that end in 022718 through 072018.
The recalled dog food products include:
Beef Veggie Mix Dog Food
Ground Beef Dog Food
Sliced Beef Heart Dog Food
Ground Beef Heart Dog Food
Kim’s Special Beef Organ Dog Food
Ground Chicken Dog Food
Chicken Veggie Mix Dog Food
Chicken Mix Patties Dog Food
Duck Veggie Mix Dog Food
Ground Duck Dog Food
Ground Rabbit Dog Food
Rabbit Veggie Mix Dog Food
Ground Lamb Dog Food
Lamb Veggie Mix Dog Food
Ground Beef Pancreas Dog Food
Beef Liver Chunks Dog Food
Beef Sweet Breads Dog Food
Ground Pork Dog Food
Pork Veggie Mix Dog Food
Shelby’s Pork Organ Mix Dog Food
Ground Pollock Dog Food
Turkey Veggie Mix Dog Food
Ground Turkey Dog Food
Tripe Dog Food
The recalled cat food products include:
Pat’s Cat Beef
Pat’s Cat Chicken
Pat’s Cat Turkey
Pat’s Cat Duck
Pat’s Cat Rabbit
No confirmed illnesses have been reported to date.
What Caused the Recall?
The recall was initiated as the result of a routine sampling program by the Ohio Department of Agriculture which revealed that some finished products contained the bacteria.
What to Do?
Consumers who have purchased the products are urged to return them to G & C Raw, 225 N. West Street, Versailles, OH, for a full refund.
Consumers with questions may contact G & C Raw at 937-827-0010 from 9 to 5 pm Easter Time or by email at mgcrawdogfood@yahoo.com.
U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
September 16, 2018
by
The Animal Health Foundation
September 12, 2018 — Bravo Packing, Inc. of Carneys Point, New Jersey, is recalling all Performance Dog products, a frozen raw pet food, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
What’s Recalled?
The following products are affected by the recall:
Performance Dog
Package Size: 2-pound plastic sleeve
Mfg Date Code: 071418
Performance Dog
Package Size: 5-pound plastic sleeve
Mfg Date Code: 071418
Performance Dog comes frozen in 2-pound and 5-pound plastic sleeves.
The recalled product has manufacture date code 071418.
The manufacture date codes are printed on the boxes that contain the plastic sleeves, but not on the individual plastic sleeves.
Therefore, if the cardboard box has been discarded, there are no unique identification numbers on the individual sleeves that allow customers to determine that they possess the recalled products.
If you purchased this product since July 14, 2018 and cannot determine whether it is affected by the recall, the FDA recommends that you exercise caution and throw the product away.
About Salmonella
Salmonella can cause illness in animals eating the products, as well as people who handle contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products, infected animals or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.
Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis (an infection of the heart muscle), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.
People who have these symptoms after having contact with this product or an animal that has eaten this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
Some pets will have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.
Pets exposed to contaminated food can be infected without showing symptoms.
If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Infected animals can also shed Salmonella through their feces and saliva, spreading pathogens into the home environment and to humans and other animals in the household.
No human or animal illnesses have been reported to date.
What Caused the Recall?
Bravo Packing, Inc. is voluntarily recalling this product after a sample of Performance Dog, collected during an FDA inspection, tested positive for Salmonella.
Performance Dog generally works with the distributor Tefco, located in Brooklyn , New York, that fills orders to brick-and-mortar retail stores or to consumers directly.
What to Do?
Consumers with questions should contact Bravo Packing, Inc. at 856-299-1044 (Monday thru Friday, 6 AM to 2 PM, Saturday 4 AM to 9 AM ET) or through the company’s website at www.bravopacking.com.
U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
June 12, 2018 — Dave’s Pet Food of Agawam, MA, is voluntarily recalling a single lot of Dave’s Dog Food 95% Premium Beef cans because the products potentially contain elevated levels of beef thyroid hormone.
What’s Recalled?
The recalled product consists of a single batch (548 cases) of 13 oz., 95% premium beef dog food with a UPC # of 85038-11167 and a date code of 08/2020.
Dave’s Dog Food 95% Premium Beef
Size: 13-ounce cans
UPC Code: 85038-11167
Date Code: 08/2020
Where Was It Sold?
The affected product was distributed all along the east coast of the US, sold in pet stores and e-commerce sites.
About Beef Thyroid Hormone
Dogs consuming high levels of beef thyroid hormone may exhibit symptoms such as increased thirst and urination, weight loss, increased heart rate and restlessness.
These symptoms may resolve when the consumption of these levels is discontinued.
However, with prolonged consumption these symptoms may increase in severity and may include vomiting, diarrhea, and rapid or labored breathing.
Should these symptoms occur, we recommend pet owners contact their veterinarian immediately.
What Caused the Recall?
The recall was initiated after FDA informed Dave’s that one lot of product was analyzed and found to have elevated levels of thyroid hormone.
FDA analyzed the product after receiving a complaint that four dogs consuming it were found to have low Free T4 (fT4) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
No other Dave’s products, or any other product manufactured by Dave’s Pet Food, are impacted.
The voluntary recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
What to Do?
Consumers who have purchased the specific product listed above should stop feeding it to their dogs.
If consumers have questions or would like to receive a refund or coupon for replacement product, they should call the company at 888-763-2738 Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM ET.
U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
13 billion pounds cattle material, an equal 13 billion pounds of illegal poultry material and another 13 billion pounds of illegal pig material is also allowed to be processed into pet feed/animal feed for a grand illegal total of 40 billion pounds a year.
Recalls in June 2018
