• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Pet food brand recalled for potentially fatal aflatoxin levels

January 4, 2021
dvm360 Staff

At least 28 deaths and 8 cases of illness have been reported in dogs that ate the recalled products.

Editor's Note: This recall has been expanded. Please visit this link to learn more.

On December 30, Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. announced a recall of several lots of Sportmix brand pet food products due to potentially fatal aflatoxin levels. The announcement followed multiple consumer reports to the FDA regarding illnesses and deaths among dogs eating the food. To date, 28 dogs have died and 8 have become ill after consuming the recalled Sportmix products, according to the FDA. No cat or human illnesses have been reported, although 2 cat food brands are among the recalled products.

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mold by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. Pets are highly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning because they typically eat the same food daily over extended periods.

Ingestion of the recalled pet foods may cause sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea and, in severe cases, death. Some pets may suffer liver damage but have no clinical signs.

Below is a full description of the affected products. Lot code information may be found on the back of the bag as a 3-line code, as follows:

Advertisement
  • Sportmix Energy Plus, 50-lb bag: Exp03/02/22/05/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/, Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Pet owners should immediately stop feeding their pets the affected foods and consult their veterinarian if their pet displayed any of the signs mentioned above. Additionally, FDA advises pet owners to sanitize food bowls, scoops, and storage containers using bleach, rinsing well with water, and drying thoroughly.

Retailers should not sell or donate the affected products and should contact the manufacturer for further steps. If possible, retailers should contact consumers who have purchased the recalled products. Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs can be reached at 800-474-4163, ext. 455 from 7 am to 4 pm CT, Monday through Friday, or by email at info@midwesternpetfoods.com.

Veterinarians and pet owners who suspect aflatoxin poisoning should submit reports electronically through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

The FDA and Missouri Department of Agriculture are working with Midwestern Pet Foods to determine whether any additional products contain high levels of aflatoxin. The investigation is ongoing and new information will be released as it becomes available.

Related Content:

RecallsNutritionMedical
Drug for acute onset of canine pancreatitis is launched on the US market
Drug for acute onset of canine pancreatitis is launched on the US market
New certificate program addresses the importance of self-care
New certificate program addresses the importance of self-care
Diagnostics for a thoracic trauma patient
Diagnostics for a thoracic trauma patient

Advertisement

Latest News

Four ways to curb no shows

FDA and European Union expand Mutual Recognition Agreement to include animal drugs

Successful tolerability study of CBD products for dogs

Second annual 'Dog Days of Summer' adoption event to take place in Michigan

View More Latest News
Advertisement