Both dog foods are being recalled due to unacceptable levels of aflatoxin.  Learn more about aflatoxin and aflatoxin toxicosis.  Possible signs your pet has been affected include: lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, bloody diarrhea or black-tarry stool, yellow mucous membranes and possibly seizures.

Therese over at PetSitUSA learned that the food being recalled by Arrowbrand was also made by Cargill at the same plant where the previously recalled Marksman and River Run were manufactured.  The affected products are:

• ARROWBRAND 21% Dog Chunks   SKU #807  40 lb. bag
• ARROWBRAND Super Proeaux Dog Food  SKU #812 40 lb. bag
• ARROWBRAND Professional Formula Dog Food  SKU #814 50 lb. bag

The recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes 4K0335 to 4K1335.  Return product to place of purchase for a refund and for more information, call 800-256-2769 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

PetSitUSA also notes that Cargill manufactures these brands of pet foods:

1. Cargill
2. Nutrena®
3. Agway®
4. ACCO®
5. Loyall®
6. Purina®
7. Sportman’s Choice®

Procter & Gamble is recalling Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with “Use By” or Expiration Dates of February 5 or February 6, 2013.

• 7.0 lb bag, Code Date: 12784177I6, UPC Code: 1901402305
• 8.0 lb bag, Code Date: 12794177D2 or 12794177D3, UPC Code: 1901410208
• 17.5 lb bag, Code Date: 12794177K1 or 12794177K2, UPC Code: 1901401848

These are the products included in the recall:

1. Jones Natural Chews Co Pig Ears 2pk bag with header card —item upc 741956001047, lot 2420
2. Jones Natural Chews Co Pig Ears bulk 100ct box —box upc 741956001139, lot 2490, 2560, 2630, 2700, 2840, 2910, 2980
3. Jones Natural Chews Co Pig Ears bulk 50 ct box —box upc 741956001504, lot 2490, 2840
4. Jones Natural Chews Co Pig Ears bulk 25ct box —box upc 741956001467, lot 2700
5. Jones Natural Chews Co Pig Ears 1pk shrinkwrapped —item upc 741956001146, lot 2700, 2840, 2420
6. Jones Natural Chews Co Pig Ears 10pk printed bag—item upc 741956001405, lot 2420, 2560, 2630, 2840
7. Blain’s Farm & Fleet Pig Ears 10 pieces bag—item upc 741956001405, lot 2560
8. Country Butcher Dog Chews Pig Ears 1pk shrinkwrapped —item upc 741956001511, lot 2630
9. Country Butcher Dog Chews Pig Ears 1pk shrinkwrapped —item upc 741956001146, lot 2420
10. Country Butcher Dog Chews Pig Ears 12pk bag —item upc 741956001245, lot 2910

What you need to know about Salmonella

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and cross-contamination to humans is possible resulting in serious illness.

• Here is good information on the symptoms & treatment of salmonellosis in dogs & cats.
• The FDA has information on safe pet food handling to prevent food born illnesses like salmonella.
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has a very informative page on salmonellosis in humans.

The FDA has announced the recall of Merrick Pet Care’s, Inc. Jr. Texas Taffy pet treat (ITEM # 27077, UPC # 02280827077, All Lots up to and including 10364) due to possible Salmonella contamination.  The Merrick Pet Care site says to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Contact Merrick at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm CST with any questions.

What you need to know about Salmonella

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and cross-contamination to humans is possible resulting in serious illness.

• Here is good information on the symptoms & treatment of salmonellosis in dogs & cats.
• The FDA has information on safe pet food handling to prevent food born illnesses like salmonella.
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has a very informative page on salmonellosis in humans.

Kroger is recalling numerous pet foods because of possible aflatoxin contamination.

• Pet Pride Cat Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111088128
• Pet Pride Cat Food sold in 18 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071357
• Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111088152
• Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food sold in 18 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074580
• Pet Pride Kitten Formula Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071903
• Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food sold in 22 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074566
• Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food sold in 50 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074563
• Kroger Value Cat Food sold in 3 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111000018
• Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food sold in 15 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071559
• Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food sold in 50 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code:111100010

The recall includes product from Kroger stores in:

The recall affects 75,000 bags with the lot number BZ0969101E.  If you have any bags with this lot number, you should carefully dispose of any unused product.

If you have any questions, you can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414.

What you need to know about Salmonella

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and cross-contamination to humans is possible resulting in serious illness.

• Here is good information on the symptoms & treatment of salmonellosis in dogs & cats.
• The FDA has information on safe pet food handling to prevent food born illnesses like salmonella.
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has a very informative page on salmonellosis in humans.

What you need to know about Salmonella

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and cross-contamination to humans is possible resulting in serious illness.

• Here is good information on the symptoms & treatment of salmonellosis in dogs & cats.
• The FDA has information on safe pet food handling to prevent food born illnesses like salmonella.
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has a very informative page on salmonellosis in humans.

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photo credit: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH

The recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken was triggered when the FDA reported a random sample tested positive for salmonella.  There have been no reports of illness.  This recall effects:

Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food

• 5lb. bags
• best-by-date June 17, 2011
• UPC code 7-23633-9000-4

• 28lb. bags
• best-by-date June 17, 2011
• UPC code 7-23633-99002-8

The product was distributed to Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Natural Balance’s president has written a letter to customers. If you have product included in the recall, you can return it to the store from which you bought it for a refund.  Some good news is Natural Balance had samples tested by a 3rd party and the results were all negative.  Natural Balance stands out from a lot of pet food companies in that they have in-house testing, show results on their site, & don’t distribute product until tests are completed.  Also, they aren’t burying the recall on their website, though they did do the Friday press release. (Friday night press releases happened all the time during the huge melamine contamination recalls.  Friday nights were late nights for me during that time because recalls would be issued in the middle of the night on Fridays so the stories would get minimal coverage.  It’s a tradition in business and government.)

What you need to know about Salmonella

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and there can be cross-contamination to humans causing serious illness in humans.

• Here is good information on the symptoms & treatment of salmonellosis in dogs & cats.
• The FDA has information on safe pet food handling to prevent food born illnesses like salmonella.
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has a very informative page on salmonellosis in humans.

The FDA has announced a recall of canned Iams ProActive Health food for cats and kittens due to insufficient levels of thiamine (B1).  The recall is only for North America and includes:

• all varieties of ProActive Health canned food in 3 oz & 5.5 oz cans with dated 09/2011 to 06/2012 on the bottom of the can

Cats who only eat ProActive Health food are the ones at risk for thiamine deficiency.

Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include loss of appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, signs may include ventroflexion (downward curving) of the neck, wobbly gait, falling, circling and seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.

The FDA says to discard any cans included in the recall and contact Proctor & Gamble for information and refunds.  Call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8826 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST).

If you transfer your pet food to bins or other containers, it’s important that you keep the packaging until all the food is eaten so you can provide information on the variety, point of manufacture, lot numbers, best-by dates, etc.  I haven’t been good about this at all.

When you file a report, you’ll deal with your state’s Complaint Coordinator.  Check the FDA list for each State’s contact information.

I think it’s also a good idea:

• to file a report with the manufacturer and let them know you’ve filed one with the FDA
• to get your veterinarian to file a report
• to be diligent about reporting concerns given how long it can take the FDA to respond