A recall has been expanded for a brand of pet food that is suspected in the deaths of more than 70 pets, the Food and Drug Administration announced Monday.
Certain products of Sportmix pet foods, manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods at its Oklahoma plant, may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins.
In addition to the deaths, more than 80 pets have gotten sick after eating the food. The FDA notes that these numbers are approximate as not all the cases have been confirmed by laboratory testing.
"Aflatoxins are toxins produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxins can cause illness and death in pets," the FDA said.
Effects of aflatoxin poisoning may include:
- sluggishness
- loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage)
- diarrhea
- liver damage (but pets may not show symptoms)
- death
If a pet shows symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, contact a veterinarian immediately.
Anyone who has the recalled food is urged to throw it out.
Below is a list of all the recalled dry pet food products announced by Midwestern Pet Foods on Dec. 30, 2020.
- 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
And this is the list of products in the expanded recall on Jan. 11. All of these have an expiration date of "07/09/22" and includes "05" in the date/lot code. Lot code information may be found on the back of bag and will appear in a three-line code, with the top line in format “EXP 03/03/22/05/L#/B###/HH:MM”
- Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk, 40 lb. bag
- Pro Pac Performance Puppy, 40 lb. bag
- Splash Fat Cat 32%, 50 lb. bag
- Nunn Better Maintenance, 50 lb. bag
- Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag
- Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag
- Sportmix Maintenance, 44 lb. bag
- Sportmix Maintenance, 50 lb. bag
- Sportmix High Protein, 50 lb. bag
- Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag
- Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag
- Sportmix Stamina, 44 lb. bag
- Sportmix Stamina, 50 lb. bag
- Sportmix Bite Size, 40 lb. bag
- Sportmix Bite Size, 44 lb. bag
- Sportmix High Energy, 44 lb. bag
- Sportmix High Energy, 50 lb. bag
- Sportmix Premium Puppy, 16.5 lb. bag
- Sportmix Premium Puppy, 33 lb. bag