2021 Pet Food Recalls and Safety Alerts

Tuffy's Pet Foods is recalling approximately 1,600 cases of Pure Vita Salmon Entree Dog Food.

The product may contain elevated levels of Vitamin D, which can cause adverse reactions in dogs of all sizes, including symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss.

There are no reports of illness or injury to date.

The recalled product -- which comes in a 12.5-oz. TetraPak carton with a lot number between 0629101N1 and 0901101N1 and UPC 0 73893 96202 1 -- has “best by dates” of June 9, 2023, and September 1, 2023. It was shipped to distributors and retail stores within the U.S.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should stop feeding it to their pets immediately and return it to their retailer for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact Tuffy’s Pet Foods at (800) 525-9155 Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (CT), or by email at tufcustservice@klnfamilybrands.com.

Fromm Family Foods is recalling approximately 5,500 cases of Fromm Shredded Entrée dog food.

The products may have elevated levels of Vitamin D, which can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. There are no reports of illness or injury to date

A list of the recalled products, packaged in 12-oz. cans with a Best By Date of 08/2024 and sold at neighborhood pet stores nationwide, may be found here.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should stop feeding them to their dogs and return them to their retailer.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (800) 325-6331 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am --5:00 pm (CT), or by email at info@frommfamily.com.

Top Quality Dog Food of Hyattsville, Md., is recalling 1-lb. packages Beef HVM.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled product, lot #071521, was distributed in Washington, D.C., Maryland. Virginia, Delaware Massachusetts, Connecticut and South Carolina, and sold through mail order and direct delivery from July 21, 2021, through August 2, 2021.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should discard it immediately, or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (240) 802-6601 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (EST) or by email at customerservice@topqualitydogfood.com

Wet Noses Natural Dog Treat Company of Monroe, Wash., is recalling approximately 51,000 packages of Simply Nourish frozen dog food.

The products contain elevated levels of Vitamin D, which could induce symptoms including vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

A list of the recalled products, packaged in 2-lb and 4.5-lb packages across specific date ranges, and sold at select PetSmart stores nationwide, may be found here.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should stop feeding them to their dogs, and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (866) 938-6673 Monday – Friday, from 8 am – 4:30 pm (PST).

Pet food maker Sunshine Mills has voluntarily recalled some of its dog food products because of “potentially elevated” levels of Aflatoxin -- a byproduct of mold that could be harmful to pets if consumed in large quantities. 

In a recall alert, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the affected products were sold at stores across the U.S. under the company’s brands of Triumph, Evolve, Wild Harvest, Nurture Farms, Pure Being, and Elm. 

A list of affected products can be viewed here. All of the products have a "best if used by date" of Feb. 11, 2022. 

Discontinue use immediately

The FDA describes Aflatoxin as “a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus” that can grow on pet food ingredients such as corn, peanuts, and other grains. The agency said levels of Aflatoxin “above the acceptable limit” were detected in the products being recalled.

No illnesses linked to the products have been reported. The company said it initiated the recall as a “precautionary measure.” 

Pets who have recently consumed any of the products should be monitored for symptoms that include sluggishness or lethargy, reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, and diarrhea.

“Pets that have consumed any of the recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian,” Sunshine Mills said. 

Consumers who have purchased the products are advised to stop feeding them to pets and to return unused portions to the place of purchase for full refund. Sunshine Mills says customers with questions can contact their customer service center at 800-705-2111 or email questions to customer.service@sunshinemills.com.

Freshpet is recalling a single lot of Freshpet Select Small Dog Bite Size Beef & Egg Recipe Dog Food.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

There are no reports of illness, injury, or adverse reaction to date.

The recalled product, which comes in1-lb bags with Sell by Date 10/30/2021, lot code 1421FBP0101, and UPC 627975012939, was inadvertently shipped to retailers in limited geographic markets from June 7 – 10, 2021.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should stop feeding it to their dogs and discard it.

Consumers desiring a refund may do so online at http://freshpet.co/ssdb21.

Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (866) 789-3737, Monday through Friday, 9 am – 9 pm (EDT) and Saturday & Sunday 9 am – 1 pm (EDT) or at www.freshpet.com.

Sunshine Mills is recalling Sportsman’s Pride, Sprout Sporting, Intimidator, FRM Gold Select dog food.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

No illnesses, injuries or complaints have been reported to date.

A list of the recalled products, with best buy date and lot code on the back of each package, may be found here.

The recalled products were sold in retail stores and online.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should discontinue using them and return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Sunshine Mills at (800) 705-2111 from 7AM to 4PM (CT), Monday through Friday, or by email at customer.service@sunshinemills.com for additional information.

Natural Balance Pet Foods of San Diego, Calif., is recalling Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Formula Dry Cat Food.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

No customer complaints or illnesses have been reported to date.

The following product, sold in retail stores nationwide and online, is being recalled:

• 5-lb bag, Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Formula Dry Cat Food, UPC code 2363300233, lot code 1008080 06:42N811202:20 and “Best if Used by Date 10-Mar-2022.
• 10-lb bag, Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Formula Dry Cat Food, UPC code 2363300235, lot code 1008080 06:42N811202:20 and “Best if Used by Date 10-Mar-2022.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should stop feeding it to their cats and discard immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Return information may be found on the back panel of each bag.

Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (833)558-0908, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (PST), or online at www.naturalbalanceinc.com/contact-us.

The J. M. Smucker Company is recalling two lots of Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Cat Food.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

There are no reports of pet illness or adverse reactions.

A list of the recalled products, sold at select Walmart stores in Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming may be found here.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should stop feeding them to their cats and dispose of them immediately.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (888) 569-6728, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (ET) or online at www.meowmix.com/contact-us.

Midwestern Pet Foods of Evansville, Ind., is recalling various dog and cat foods.

The products may be contaminated with salmonella.

No human or pet illnesses have been reported to date.

A list of the recalled products, sold in retail stores nationwide, online and in Bahrain, Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Ghana, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay, may be found here.

Lot code information may be found on the back of the bags with the following format:

“EXP AUG/02/22/M1/L#

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not feed them to pets or any other animals, but should destroy them in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (800) 474-4163, ext 455. from 8 AM to 5 PM (CT) Monday through Friday or by email at info@midwesternpetfoods.com.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports Midwestern Pet Foods has launched a major recall of several dog and cat food brands because some of the products might be contaminated with salmonella.

The agency says the pathogen can be harmful, even deadly for pets. It can also pose a health threat to humans who handle the products.

The recall stretches across five brands -- CanineX, Earthborn, Sportmix, Meridian, and Pro Pac. The products were produced at a plant in Monmouth, Ill.

“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,” the company said in an announcement posted by the FDA. “Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.”

Another recall in January

In January, the FDA issued a safety advisory for certain lots of Sportmix products, saying high levels of aflatoxin, which is toxic to some animals, was believed to be the cause of death for 28 dogs. The company voluntarily recalled the product.

Weeks later, the FDA widened the recall of Sportmix after receiving additional reports that some pets had died after consuming it. 

This time the company said it is erring on the side of caution in issuing the voluntary recall. The company said it issued the recall after routine sampling by company inspectors detected the salmonella. It said there had been no human or pet illnesses reported to date.

Symptoms

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen that causes hundreds of cases of food poisoning among humans each year but is just as likely to affect animals. Pets with salmonella 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, the company said. 

The current recall involves products sold online and at retail stores nationwide. The products have expiration dates ranging from April 2022 through September 2022. 

Bravo Packing of Carneys Point, N.J.. is expanding its earlier recall of two pet food products to include all pet food and bones in all package sizes.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

No human or animal illnesses have been reported to date.

A list of the recalled products, sold in retail stores and to consumers directly nationwide, may be found here.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should handle them with caution and discard them in a secure container.

Consumers with questions may contact Bravo Packing at (856) 299-1044 Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM (EST).

Bravo Packing of Carneys Point, N.J., is recalling all Ground Beef and Performance Dog, a frozen raw pet food.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

No human or animal illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled products, which come frozen in 2-lb and 5-lb plastic sleeves, were sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores or to consumers directly nationwide.

What to do

Consumers who purchased the recalled products should discard them.

Consumers with questions may contact Bravo Packing at (856) 299-1044 Monday -- Friday, 9:00AM -- 2:00PM, (EST).

Vitakraft Sun Seed of Weston, Ohio, is recalling one lot of Vitakraft Vita Smart Hedgehog Food.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella, and there is risk to humans from handling it.

There are no reports of illness to date.

The recalled product, lot # 343422 and UPC code 0-51233-34792-9, comes in a 25-oz. container with an expiration date of November 6, 2022.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should stop using it and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (800) 221-6175 Extension 123, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm (EST).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has broadened a recall of Sportmix pet foods following reports of dozens of additional canine deaths.

Last week, the agency recalled certain lots of Sportmix pet food after finding that the pet food contained high levels of aflatoxin, which is toxic to pets. The agency said 28 dogs had died in connection to the product, and eight others became ill. 

On Tuesday, the FDA issued an updated advisory saying that 70 dogs have died and over 80 others have gotten sick after consuming Sportmix pet food. 

Sportmix products, which are manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, were recalled on December 30. The manufacturer has now expanded the recall to include additional products that contain corn and were made in the same manufacturing facility. 

The affected products have an expiration date on or before July 9, 2022 and have "05" in the date or lot code.

Products contain high levels of aflatoxin

Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus. It can grow on corn and other grains used to make pet food and potentially cause pets to die or become ill when consumed in high levels. 

FDA officials said symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. 

“In severe cases, this toxicity can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage but not show any symptoms,” according to the agency. 

The FDA recommends that owners of pets who have eaten the products involved in the recall contact their veterinarian even if they’re not showing symptoms, but especially if they are showing symptoms. 

“Pet owners should stop feeding their pets the recalled products listed below and consult their veterinarian, especially if the pet is showing signs of illness,” the FDA said in December. “The pet owner should remove the food and make sure no other animals have access to the recalled product.” 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety advisory concerning pet food containing high levels of aflatoxin, which is toxic to pets. The agency said 28 dogs have died in connection to the pet food in question and eight others became ill. 

The FDA said it has found that certain lots of Sportmix products, manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, caused the canine deaths and illnesses. The company voluntarily recalled the products last week. 

The agency said it is still looking into whether more products contain high levels of aflatoxin. In total, nine lots of Sportmix products have so far been found to contain high levels of the toxin. 

“Case counts and the scope of this recall may expand as new information becomes available,” the FDA said in its announcement. 

What is aflatoxin? 

Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, the FDA said. It can grow on corn and other grains used to make pet food. Consuming high levels of the toxin can cause pets to become ill or even die. 

FDA officials said symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. 

“In severe cases, this toxicity can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage but not show any symptoms,” according to the agency. 

To be safe, the FDA recommends that owners of pets who have eaten the products involved in the recall contact their veterinarian.  

“Pet owners should stop feeding their pets the recalled products listed below and consult their veterinarian, especially if the pet is showing signs of illness,” the FDA said. “The pet owner should remove the food and make sure no other animals have access to the recalled product.”