RECALL UPDATE: More Dog Food Products Test Positive For Deadly Aflatoxins

Not more than one week ago I wrote about a recall of dog food products produced by Sunshine Mills. Now, even more Sunshine Mills products have been recalled, but this time the concern is not related to salmonella. The company issued a voluntary recall following a single positive test for elevated aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a mold byproduct that can be harmful and possibly deadly to dogs.

An excerpt from the official statement reads:

“While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, Sunshine Mills, Inc. has chosen to issue a voluntary recall of these products as a precautionary measure in furtherance of its commitment to the safety and quality of its products.”

Which Products Have Been Recalled?

The following products are involved in the recall.

Image via Dogington Post

Family Pet Meaty Cuts Beef, Chicken & Cheese Flavors Premium Dog Food:

• A 4 lb. bag with lot codes TD3 4/APRIL/2020 or TD1 5/APRIL/2020, UPC #3225120694
• A 14 lb. bag with lot codes TB1 4/APRIL/2020, TB2 4/APRIL/2020 or TB3 3/APRIL/2020, UPC #3225118078

Heartland Farms Grilled Favorites Beef, Chicken & Cheese Flavor Dog Food:

• A 14 lb. bag with lot codes TB1 4/APRIL/2020 or TB2 4/APRIL/2020, UPC #7015514299
• A 31 lb. bag with lot codes TA2 4/APRIL/2020 or TA3 4/APRIL/2020, UPC #7015514301

Paws Happy Life Butcher’s Choice Beef, Chicken & Cheese Flavors Dog Food:

• 16 lb., lot codes TA1 4/APRIL/2020 or TA2 4/APRIL/2020, UPC #3680035763

No other Family Pet®, Heartland Farms®, or Paws Happy Life® products or other lot codes of these products are affected by this precautionary recall.

What To Do If You Have This Food

Since these products were distributed in retail stores nationally, make sure to check if you have them. If you do, stop feeding these products to your dog immediately. Retailers have also been informed to remove all of these products from shelves.

Anyone who purchased these particular brands can contact Sunshine Mills, Inc. Customer Service at (800) 705-2111 from 7AM to 4PM Central Time, Monday through Friday, or by email at customer.service@sunshinemills.com.

Watch For Signs Of Illness In Your Dog

If your dog ate some food with aflatoxins, watch out for the following symptoms:

• Sluggishness or lethargy
• A reluctance to eat
• Vomiting
• Yellowish tint to the eyes or gums
• Diarrhea

If you do detect these signs, bring your dog to see a veterinarian right away.

Original recall post from 8/26/20:

No one likes to be the bearer of bad news, but here I am with some that’s urgent. Nature’s Menu Chicken and Quail dog food has been recalled due to salmonella risk. A sample of a single 3-pound bag tested by the Georgia Department of Agriculture tested positive for Salmonella. Though other samples tested negative, Sunshine Mills Inc. issued a voluntary recall of all of this particular food on August 24, 2020 out of an abundance of caution.

The company’s announcement reads:

“Sunshine Mills, Inc. is issuing a voluntary recall of Nature’s Menu® Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail because of the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.”

Which Products Were Recalled?

The recalled food products were distributed nationally in retail stores, and it’s possible if you shop at a larger retailer you purchased it. The products can be identified with UPC codes UPC 7015514363 and UPC 7015514365. This food comes in a 13.5-pound bag with the following lot codes:

TB1 20/April /2020, TB1 21/April/2020, TB1 22/April/2020, TB2 20/April /2020, TB2 21/April/2020, TB2 22/April/2020, TB3 20/April/2020, TB3 21/April/2020, TB3 22/April/2020.

The packaging looks like this:

via Dog Food Advisor

What To Do If You Have This Food

DO NOT FEED THIS FOOD TO YOUR DOG. Return it to the place where you purchased it for a full refund. Retailers who sell the products were already advised to throw it out and stop selling it. So far, no related injuries have been reported. You can call Sunshine Mills at 800-705-2111 if you have any questions.

If you choose to throw the bag of food away, secure the trash bag so your naughty pup doesn’t find his or her way into it.

U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area. You can also visit the FDA’s pet food complaint site.

About Salmonella

When it comes to dog food tainted with Salmonella, both dogs and their people who handle it are at risk.

Symptoms of Salmonella in dogs include:

• Lethargy
• Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Decreased Appetite.

Those symptoms will appear similar in infected people too. Salmonella can occasionally result in more serious ailments as well, like muscle pain and arterial infections. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can still be carriers and pass on the infection to other animals or humans.

If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or your dog, contact your respective health care providers immediately. You should also wash your hands with soap and water and do the same for surfaces tainted food may have touched.

H/T: Petful
Featured Image: @mattycoulton/Pixabay

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