Dog food recalls cite aflatoxin

Cargill Animal Nutrition and the Procter & Gamble Company are both voluntarily recalling dog foods due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit.
 
Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mold by-product. If consumed in significant quantities, it can be harmful to pet health. Pets that 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.
 
Cargill and P&G both announced Dec. 6 that they were recalling products due to high levels of aflatoxin, according to news releases from the companies.

The recall affects products manufactured at a Cargill facility in Lecompte, Louisiana between Dec. 1, 2010 and Dec. 1, 2011.

The recalled Cargill products are products from River Run and Marksman, two regional brands of its dry dog food. To date, no illnesses have been reported with these products.

Affected Cargill products are:

Professional Formula River Run Hi-NRG 24-20 Dog Food, 50 pound bags

River Run Professional Formula 27-18 Dog Food, 50 pound bags

River Run 21% Protein Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bags

River Run Hi-Pro No-Soy Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bags

Marksman Dog Food 24% Protein 20% Fat, 40 pound bags

Marksman Dog Food 20% Protein 10% Fat, 40 and 50 pound bags

Marksman Dog Food 28% Protein 18% Fat, 40 pound bags

The recall only applies to the above products with the following packaging date codes (lot numbers): 4K0335 through 4K0365, LL0335 through LL0365, 4K1001 through 4K1335 and LL1001 through LL1335.

The affected Cargill products were distributed in the following 15 states/territories: Kansas, Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, Southern Illinois, Hawaii, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and limited areas of Florida and California.

Consumers can return opened or unopened packages to their place of purchase for a full refund, according to Cargill.

P&G is recalling one production lot of dry dog food.

P&G recalled a lot of Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with use by or expiration dates of Feb. 5, 2013 or Feb. 6, 2013. The versions affected are 7 pound, 8 pound and 17.5 pound bags.

The date codes affected include 12784177I6, 12794177D2, 12794177D3, 12794177K1 and 12794177K2.

The affected P&G products were distributed in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.

P&G says there have been no adverse health effects reported, and that the recall is a voluntary, precautionary measure.

Both Cargill and P&G have already instructed retailers to remove the affected products from retail shelves.

NEWStat