Recently the FDA announced that Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc has issued a recall of Sportmix brand pet foods due to potentially elevated levels of aflatoxin. The recall, first announced on December 30, 2020, includes all pet food products containing corn that were manufactured in the company’s Oklahoma plant and have an expiration date on or before July 9, 2022.
The recall, which affects more than 1000 lot codes, follows an alarming surge of consumer complaints of deaths and illnesses among dogs that consumed the affected pet foods. As of January 11, 2021, 70 dogs have died and more than 80 fell ill after consuming Sportmix products, according to the FDA. It’s important to note that not all cases have been officially confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning. This count is approximate and may change as the situation develops.
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.
Signs of aflatoxin poisoning include sluggishness, appetite loss, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, death. Some pets may suffer liver damage but have no clinical signs.
Below is a list of all the newly recalled products. The following pet foods have been recalled if the lot code has an expiration date on or before “07/09/22” and includes “05,” which identifies products made in the Oklahoma plant:
- 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