FDA recalls Sportmix pet food over toxic levels of aflatoxin which has killed at least 28 dogs and sickened eight others
The US FDA has recalled some varieties of Sportmix pet food following reports that at least 28 dogs died after eating the food which had contained high levels of alfatoxin.
After the FDA received reports of the dog deaths - in addition to eight reports of dogs falling ill - Sportmix makers Midwestern Pet Food recalled multiple production lots of dry pet food for both dogs and cats.
The impacted varieties were from the Sportmix Energy Plus, Premium High Energy and Original Cat lines.
The FDA recalled several production lots of Sportmix pet foods Sportmix Energy Plus, Premium High Energy and Original Cat lines
FDA tests done on multiple samples of the food lines carried out by the Missouri Department of Agriculture were found to have very high levels of aflatoxin, which is produced by the Aspergillus flavus mold, which can grow on corn and other grains used in making pet food.
High levels of the toxin - which can be present in the food even if there is no visible mold - could lead to illness and death in pets, the FDA said.
Because pets continuously eat the same food over long periods of time, they are particularly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning, which can accumulate in a pet's body.
Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning in pets includes sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, and/or diarrhea. Some pets can also experience liver damage without showing any symptoms.
Social media users were left wondering if feeding their pets Sportmix had contributed to their dogs' recent deaths after news of the recall became public
Pet owners who have been feeding pets with the recalled products are asked to contact their veterinarians.
The FDA said there is no evidence suggesting that pet owners who've handle food that has aflatoxin in it are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning, however the organization said it was a good idea to wash hands after touching pet food.
The FDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are still determining if any other Sportmix food lines were made with the ingredients that contained the potentially fatal-to-pets level of aflatoxin, meaning the list of recalled foods could grow.
The recall notice led to people on social media wondering if feeding their dogs food from the brand might have led to their pets' recent deaths.
'I was getting my dog this dog food and she pass away,' wrote one Facebook user, while another noted that her 'Rottweiler 'passed away 3 weeks ago just out of nowhere he was very healthy dog.'
What is aflatoxin?
-Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus
-Aspergillus flavus can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food
-Aflatoxin can be present in pet food even if there is no visible mold
-At high levels, aflatoxin can cause illness and death in pets, because it builds up in their systems
-Signs of aflatoxin poisoning in pets include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting jaundice and/or diarrhea, contact a veterinarian immediately
-Some pets can also experience liver damage from aflatoxin poisoning without showing any symptoms
-There is no evidence to suggest that pet owners who handle products containing aflatoxin are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning