Dog Food recalls
Lately, there seems to be an unusually high recall of dog foods. Some of these recalls are of usual and disturbing natures. Below is a list of these recalls. Here's to keeping your dogs safe! What I want to know is in the Gravy Train recall, how did a drug used to euthanize animals get into their dog food? It makes one think!
GRAVY TRAIN® CANNED/WET DOG FOOD UPDATE:
A certain brand of canned dog food has been recalled after a small amount of a drug used to euthanize animals was found. Low levels were found in cans of "Gravy Train" dog food.According to the FDA, the amount found probably won't cause any health problems to pets, but still wants to recall specific shipments anyway.
What products are impacted?
| Item Name | UPC Item Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with T-Bone Flavor Chunks | 7910052541 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Strips | 7910052542 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Lamb and Rice Chunks | 7910052543 |
| Gravy Train 22 oz. with Chicken Chunks | 7910051645 |
| Gravy Train 22 oz. with Beef Chunks | 7910051647 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Chunks | 7910034417 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Chicken Chunks | 7910034418 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy Stew | 7910051933 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chicken, Beef & Liver Medley | 7910051934 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks | 7910034417 |
What products are impacted?
| Item Name | UPC Item Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with T-Bone Flavor Chunks | 7910052541 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Strips | 7910052542 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Lamb and Rice Chunks | 7910052543 |
| Gravy Train 22 oz. with Chicken Chunks | 7910051645 |
| Gravy Train 22 oz. with Beef Chunks | 7910051647 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Chunks | 7910034417 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Chicken Chunks | 7910034418 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy Stew | 7910051933 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chicken, Beef & Liver Medley | 7910051934 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks | 7910034417 |
What should I do with the Gravy Train® wet dog food I have at home now?
Although veterinarians and animal nutrition specialists, as well as the FDA, have confirmed that extremely low levels of pentobarbital do not pose a threat to pet safety, we understand you may have concerns. Please contact us 800-828-9980 or via email here http://www.bigheartpet.com/Contact/ContactUs.aspx
Various Dog Foods Recalled for Salmonella, Listeria and Presence of Illegal Drug
A series of pet food products have been recalled this month for three separate reasons—Salmonella and Listeria contamination, and the presence of an illegal drug.
Three different companies have recalled products due to the possible presence Salmonella:
Smokehouse Pet Products, Inc. (based in Sun Valley, CA)
- Announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 8, then an expanded recall announcement on February 15.
- Recalled product: 4 oz. bags of Beefy Munchies dog treats
- Expanded recall on February 15: includes all sizes of Smokehouse’s Beefy Munchies
- These particular treats were distributed regionally in Washington, Michigan, North Carolina and Colorado through distributors selling to various retailers.
- After routine testing by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Salmonella was detected in two packages of 4 oz. Beefy Munchies.
- No illnesses or injuries have been reported in relation to this recall.
Raws for Paws (based in Minneapolis, MN)
- Announced by the FDA on February 8
- Recalled product: 5 lb. and 1 lb. chubs (sealed plastic tubes) of Ground Turkey Pet Food, believed to have been distributed throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa directly to consumers and through online mail orders.
- The potential for contamination was noted after testing by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Salmonella in some packages of Turkey Pet Food.
- Two human illnesses within the same household have been reported to date in connection with this problem. At the time of Raws for Paws’ online statement, no animals were known to be affected by this recall.
Redbarn Pet Products, LLC (family-owned; based in Long Beach, CA)
- Announced by the FDA on February 9
- Recalled product: Redbarn’s 7-inch Bully Stick three pack, 2.4 oz.
- No illnesses, injuries or complaints have been reported in relation to Redbarn’s recall.
- Jeff Sutherland, Redbarn’s president has said, “On 2/5/2018, we were notified by the Colorado Department of Agriculture that a single sample collected from a retail location detected Salmonella. At Redbarn, we test every product lot before it leaves our manufacturing plant. This lot code, expiry date 112120ABC, was tested both at our Redbarn lab and by a third-party testing facility. Those tests were negative for Salmonella or pathogens. Despite not being able to replicate these test results or receiving any negative reports from customers regarding these chews, we feel the best course of action is to recall this lot code of the product and keep our customers safe”.
The problem was proven to be even more prevalent when FDA issued a statement on February 13 announcing that an investigation had been launched. Recalls and complaints have been logged in relation to Darwin's Natural and ZooLogics pet foods, manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc. of Tukwila, WA. From October 2016 through February 2018, some of the company's raw pet food products have tested positive for both Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes.
So far, FDA has investigated six cases of animal illnesses and deaths due to consuming products made by Arrow Reliance/Darwin's Natural. Since 2016, the company has recalled at least seven pet food products.
on February 16, The J.M. Smucker Company issued a statement announcing a voluntary recall of various canned, wet dog food products. Some of the company’s Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy products did not meet quality specifications due to containing extremely low levels of pentobarbital—a chemical that “is not acceptable to Smucker and not up to its quality standards.”
Pentobarbital is a barbiturate known to slow down human brain activity and the nervous system. It is commonly used as a sedative or to induce a coma-like condition. It is also used to euthanize animals. The presence of pentobarbital in pet food is a violation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Smucker has said that the root cause is a single ingredient supplier used at one manufacturing facility.
