Read before you feed: FDA reminds consumers of xylitol’s danger to pets

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reminding consumers that xylitol is highly toxic to dogs.

Xylitol is a naturally occuring alcohol found in plant materials. It is as sweet as suger, but contains 40% fewer calories.

In humans, xylitol does not raise blood sugar levels, nor does it trigger insulin production. It is used as an artificial sweetener in toothpastes, cough syrups, mouthwash, sugar-free gums, breath mints, sugar-free nut butters, and other sugar-free food products.

While safe for human consumption, xylitol is highly dangerous to dogs, whose metabolism is different from that of humans. The sweetener is absorbed rapidly into a dog’s bloodstream, triggering a potent release of insulin from the pancreas.

The insulin, in turn, causes a rapid and precipitous drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), producing symptoms of vomiting followed by decreased activity, weakness, staggering, incoordination, collapse and seizures.

While the effects of xylitol poisoning can begin to develop in as little as 10 to 60 minutes, symptoms may not develop until as long as 12 to 24 hours after ingestion of a product sweetened with xylitol.

Cats and other household pets are less at risk of xylitol poisoning than are dogs, according to FDA, although ferrets have been known to develop low blood sugar and seizures after eating products containing xylitol.

In 2016, the ASPCA’s Poison Control Center received more than 4300 calls relating to xylitol ingesttion.

FDA has received 31 formal reports of xylitol poisoning in dogs since 2010, according to a spokesperson for the agency. Many of the reports involved sugar-free chewing gum.

In addition to the formal reports, the agency has received numerous emails and phone calls from individuals who did not realize that products contained xylitol.

Take steps to safeguard your dog

Check the label for xylitol in the ingredients of products, especially ones that advertise as sugar-free or low sugar. If a product does contain xylitol, make sure your pet can’t get to it.
Keep products that contain xylitol (including those you don’t think of as food, such as toothpaste) well out of your dog’s reach. Remember that some dogs are adept at counter surfing.
Only use pet toothpaste for pets, never human toothpaste.
If you give your dog nut butter as a treat or as a vehicle for pills, check the label first to make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol.

Watch the video for more information

For additional information on safeguarding your pets from xylitol poisoning, follow the link to FDA’s video, “Xylitol and Dogs. A Deadly Combination”

Report safety issues to FDA

FDA wants to know if your pet encounters safety issues with a product, and/or unanticipated harmful effects that you believe are related to a product.
You can report problems related to both human and pet foods and treats at the Safety Reporting Portal.
Each report is evaluated to determine how serious the problem is and, if necessary, additional information may be requested from the person who filed the report.

Recalls and Alerts: July 1 – 6, 2019

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

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United States

OUTBREAK ALERT/Pet Treat Safety Recall: Pet Supplies Plus recalls bulk pig ear product supplied to all locations by several different vendors due to the potential of Salmonella contamination. CDC reports 45 cases of Salmonella illness linked by epidemiological evidence to pig ear pet treats sold from bulk bins.

Food Safety Recall: Growers Express recalls multiple Green Giant, Growers Express, Signature Farms and Trader Joe’s brands of fresh vegetable products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Les Dépendances recalls Bouq’Émissaire brand goat cheese made from pasteurized milk (variable weights; All product sold on or before 5 July 2019) because the product was not manufactured or packaged in a manner that ensures safety for consumption.

Food Safety Recall: Les Dépendances recalls Dongé brand Coulommiers raw milk cheese (500g; Best before 2019 JL 12; LOT MA010419CO; UPC 8 31014 41211 0) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Salish Sea Foods LP recalls Salish Sea Foods LP brand Emerald Cove, Malaspina, and Chef Creek Farmed Oysters (Lot #4787; Harvest/Process Date 06/24/19; Beach/Lease #0236161; Area 14-15) due to Vibrio parahaemolyticus contamination.

Europe

OUTBREAK ALERT (Iceland): Four children have been diagnosed with shigatoxin-producing E. coli infections in the last 3 weeks. The children all live in the capital region but may have been infected in Bláskógabyggð.

Allergy Alert (Finland): Barebells recalls Barebells Salty Peanut Ice Cream Bar (73ml; Best before 2020-08-08) and Barebells Caramel Pecan Ice Cream Stick (110ml; Best before 2020-07-30 and 2020-07-31) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): P&B Foods Ltd. recalls Heera Premium Quality Golden Sultana (20 x 100g, 20 x 250g, 6 x 700g, 3 x 5kg, 10kg; Batch codes ED18/281, ED18/071, HP1TN1040319, HP3TN1210618, HP2TN1211118, 1G2280818, 1G1280818, 2G1100119, 2G1170419, 2G1261118, 2G1240518; Best before end 30 April 2020, 31 October 2020) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Co-op Ltd. recalls Co-op Veg Taster (Use by 07 July 2019) due to undeclared fish.

Allergy Alert (Italy): T’A MILANO SRL recalls Dragees arancia candita ricoperta di cioccolato fondente (120g; various best before dates) due to undeclared sulphur.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Asia Express Food recalls Sempio brand Herbal Soybean Paste (12 x 500g) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (UK): P&B Foods Ltd recalls Heera Premium Quality Golden Sultana (20 x 100g, 20 x 250g, 6 x 700g, 3 x 5kg, 10kg; Batch codes ED18/281, ED18/071, HP1TN1040319, HP3TN1210618, HP2TN1211118, 1G2280818, 1G1280818, 2G1100119, 2G1170419, 2G1261118, 2G1240518; Best before end 30 April 2020, 31 October 2020) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (UK): Co-op Ltd recalls Co-op Veg Taster (Use by 07 July 2019) due to undeclared fish.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Fromagerie du Gros-chêne recalls Moellon – Fromage au lait cru de vache / Raw cow’s milk cheese (300g; Lots 308.19 & 1008.19; Best before 03/08/19 & 10/08/19, respectively) due to LIsteria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Ferme de Neubempt recalls Ferme de Neubempt brand maquée au lait cru (190g; Best before 05/07/2019) due to Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): TLC recalls various TLC brand catering products due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Sonnendorfer GmbH recalls certain shell eggs (Best before 22.07.19) due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Damse Kaasmakerij recalls Damse Mokke cheese, large (Lot #190528; Best before 22/07/2019 and 23/07/2019) due to possible Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Stjörnugrís ehf recalls The ISK brand Fresh ground pork (Best before 03.07.2019) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall Update (Ireland): P & B Foods Ltd. recalls Heera Chilli Powder Extra Hot (6 x 1kg and 10 x 400g; Batch code PB9446M/4; Best before end April 2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Jan Linders Supermarkets and PLUS Supermarkets recall certain raisin-currant rolls due to foreign matter (hard plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall Update (UK): P & B Foods Ltd recalls Heera Chilli Powder Extra Hot (6 x 1kg and 10 x 400g; Batch code PB9446M/4; Best before end April 2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Industry recalls MultiFit Poumon d’agneau / lamb lung (150g; Lot 024; Best before 13.11.2020; Product of Poland) due to Salmonella Anatum contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Fine Being Ha’Basar Ltd. recalls Frozen ground turkey (500g; Expiry date 31/7/19) due to Salmonella contamination.

Cavi brand whole papayas fingered in Salmonella outbreak

Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico and distributed by Agroson’s LLC of Bronx, New York are the likely source of an outbreak of Salmonella Uganda that has sickened 71 people in eight states.

This information was contained in an investigation update released today (July 5) by FDA.

The Mexican government, which described FDA’s initial report as “premature” on July 1st has not yet responded to this update.

Agroson’s is an importer and distributor of papayas. The company was one of the distributors involved in the 2017 Salmonella outbreaks linked to contaminated papayas from Mexico.

Epidemiological and traceback evidence indicates that the Agroson’s was the exclusive distributor of the implicated papayas.

FDA has asked Agroson’s to initiate a product recall. The company has not yet complied.

Illnesses associated with this outbreak have been reported in eight states: Connecticut (14), Florida (1), Massachusetts (5), New Jersey (18), New York (27), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1).

Twenty-seven people have been hospitalized. There have been no deaths.

The hospitalization rate is higher than usual in a Salmonella outbreak, according to CDC.

Among those victims for whom information is available, the rate is 60%. The usual hospitalization rate in Salmonella outbreaks is approximately 20%.

The Cavi papayas were distributed in six states, all of which have reported outbreak cases. There was no distribution in Florida or Texas.

The Florida victim reported traveling to Connecticut before becoming ill. The Texas victim reported having traveled to New York.

FDA, which is continuing its investigations, offers the following recommendations:

For Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers:

Consumers in all states should not eat any Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas and should throw them away. If consumers are unable to determine the brand of papayas, they should be thrown away. Retailers, restaurants, and other food service providers in all states should not serve or sell whole, fresh papayas under the Cavi brand, which is distributed by Agroson’s LLC.

Consumers no longer need to avoid whole, fresh papayas, with the exception of Cavi brand papayas.

For Restaurants, Retailers, Importers, Suppliers, and Distributors in All States:

The FDA strongly advises importers, suppliers, and distributors, as well as restaurants, retailers, and other food service providers from all states to not sell or distribute whole, fresh papayas from Agroson’s LLC that are labeled under the Cavi brand.