Category: food safety

Smucker confirms euthanasia drug in popular dog food brands

Recall includes Gravy Train, Kibbles ’N Bits, Skippy, Ol’ Roy; FDA’s investigation, testing ongoing

Phote Illustration

The FDA has posted notice of a voluntary recall by The J.M. Smucker Company Inc. of canned dog food after the company confirmed pentobarbital in tallow used to manufactured the affected products.

In all, the recall covers more than 107 million cans of dog food in several flavors sold under the Gravy Train, Kibbles ’N Bits, Skippy and Ol’ Roy brands. Big Heart Pet Brands distributed the Gravy Train, Kibbles ’N Bits and Skippy dog food to retailers nationwide. Walmart Stores Inc. distributed the Ol’ Roy dog food.

Initially, the Food and Drug Administration FDA had agreed to allow Smucker to issue a “product withdrawal,” pending the results of lab tests. Once pentobarbital contamination was confirmed by the company itself, Smucker agreed to a voluntary recall.

Pentobarbital is a chemical sedative used by veterinarians to euthanize animals. The presence of it at any level in a pet food is illegal, and renders the product adulterated under federal law.

The recalled dog food is sold in individual cans and multi-can packs. Smucker products included in the recall are:

The recalled dog food is sold in individual cans and multi-can packs. Smucker products included in the recall are:

  • Gravy Train With Lamb & Rice Chunks, packaged in metal cans with Net WT 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910005430 on flat case and 7910052543 on cans. Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021; Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803.
  • Gravy Train; With T-Bone Flavor Chunks; packaged in metal cans with Net WT 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910005410 on flat case and 7910052541 on cans. Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021; Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803
  • Gravy Train With Beef Chunks; packaged in metal cans with Net WT 22 OZ and UPC: 7910051647 on flat case and 7910051647 on cans; or with Net WT 13.5 OZ and UPC: 7910052457 on flat case and 79100034417 on cans. Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021; Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803
  • Gravy Train With Chicken Chunks; packaged in metal cans; Net WT 22 OZ with UPC: 7910051645 on flat case and 7910051645 on cans; and Net WT 13.2 OZ with UPC: 7910052458 on flat case and 7910034418 on cans. Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021; Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803
  • Gravy Train With Strips In Gravy; packaged in metal cans with Net WT 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910005420 on flat case and 7910052542 on cans. Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021; Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803
  • Ol’ Roy Dog Food Strips in Gravy With Turkey & Bacon; packaged in metal cans with Net Wt 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910017570 on flat case and 8113117570 on cans. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits brand Dog Food; Chef’s Choice Homestyle Tender Slices With Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy; packaged in metal cans with Net Wt. 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910052489A on flat case and 7910010380 on cans. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits brand Dog Food; Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts With Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetables; packages in metal cans with Net Wt. 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910052488A on flat case and 7910010378 on cans. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits brand Dog Food; Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts With Real Beef & Vegetables In Gravy; packaged in metal cans with Net Wt. 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910052486A on flat case and 7910010375 on cans. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Skippy Premium Chunks in gravy; Chunky Stew; packaged in metal cans with Net Wt. 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910052469 on flat case and 7910050249 on cans. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Skippy Premium Chunks in gravy; With Beef; packaged in metal cans with Net Wt. 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910052508 on flat case and 7910050250 on cans. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Skippy Premium Strips in Gravy; With Beef; packaged in metal cans with Net Wt. 13.2 OZ; UPC: 7910052509 on flat case and 7910050245 on cans. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits 12 Can Variety Pack; Chef’s Choice Bistro, containing 4 cans of Hearty Cuts with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables In Gravy; Chef’s Choice Homestyle, 4 cans of Meatballs & Pasta Dinner with Real Beef in Tomato Sauce; Chef’s Choice Bistro, and 4 cans of Bistro Tender Cuts With Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetables in Gravy; packaged in metal cans with 12 – 13.2 OZ Cans per case; Total Net Wt 9 LB 14 OZ; Variety Pack paper box UPC: 7910027750; These packages are not meant for individual can sales and are sold as a 12 can Variety Pack. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits 12 Can Variety Pack; containing 4 cans of Chef’s Choice Bistro, Hearty Cuts with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables In Gravy; 4 cans of Chef’s Choice Homestyle, Meatballs & Pasta Dinner with Real Beef in Tomato Sauce; and 4 cans of Chef’s Choice Bistro, Bistro Tender Cuts With Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetables in Gravy; packaged in metal cans with 12 – 13.2 OZ Cans per case; Total Net Wt 9 LB 14 OZ; Variety Pack paper box UPC: 7910027750. These packages are not meant for individual can sales and are sold as a 12 can Variety Pack. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits 12 Can Variety Pack; containing 6 cans of Chef’s Choice American Grill, Burger Dinner With Real Bacon & Cheese Bits In Gravy; and 6 cans of Chef’s Choice Bistro, Tender Cuts With Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetables In Gravy; packages in metal cans with 12 – 13.2 OZ cans per case; Total Net Wt 9 LB 14 OZ; Variety Pack paper box UPC: 7910027685. These packages are not meant for individual can sales and are sold as a 12 can Variety Pack. Code range: 6299 through 8040, each with the suffix plant number 803; Best By range 10 25 19 thru 02 09 2021

Excluded from Friday’s voluntary recall are a number of products reported previously by Food Safety News to have been withdrawn from the market, based on information obtained directly from the company. FDA has not yet resolved this discrepancy, an agency spokesperson said.

Test results are still pending on finished product samples collected by FDA, and the agency is continuing its investigation.

What consumers should know
Pets should not be fed any of the recalled products. Consumers should safely dispose of the recalled cans of pet food and/or contact the company or the place of purchase for information about returning the products.

Pets that consume a food containing pentobarbital can experience drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, inability to stand and nystagmus, which causes the eyes to move back and forth in a jerky manner. Consuming high levels of pentobarbital can cause coma and death. However, low levels of pentobarbital are unlikely to pose a health risk to pets, according to FDA.

People who think their pets have become ill after consuming pet food contaminated with pentobarbital should contact their veterinarians.

The FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about this and other pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

This story first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

Darwin’s pet food Salmonella problem dates back to 2016

Arrow Reliance, doing business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, has known since at least early 2016 about possible Salmonella contamination in its pet foods according to information contained in two Establishment Inspection Reports.

Darwin has recalled nine production lots of its Natural Selections and Zoologics lines of pet food since October 2016, with the most recent recall initiated earlier this month. The recalls all followed detection of Listeria monocytogenes and/or Salmonella in Darwin’s pet food.

The Establishment Inspection Reports, obtained by Food Safety News under the federal Freedom of Information Act, show the Food and Drug Administration inspected Darwin’s manufacturing plant in Tukwila, WA, after receiving a consumer complaint about foreign objects in the company’s pet food. The inspection was carried out jointly with the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

An FDA inspector reviewed Darwin’s consumer complaint log and found four entries regarding Salmonella between Jan. 12 and June 22, 2016. The company received 158 complaints in that time period, including 17 for plastic, 16 for bone fragments, four for metal, one for wood, and one for cardboard.

Darwin’s president, Gary Tashjian, told the FDA inspector at the time that none of the complaints had been confirmed by customers’ veterinarians.

Tashjian said if a customer’s veterinarian confirmed a Salmonella diagnosis with a lab test, the company would “… consider placing a hold on a specific lot of food…” Darwin’s practice was to conduct its own testing on a retained sample of a product only after a veterinarian confirmed the presence of Salmonella in the pet food. If the retained sample was found to contain Salmonella, the firm would initial a recall.

When asked why no environmental samples were tested for Salmonella even though the company’s consumer complaint logs suggested a possible problem, a spokesperson for FDA said the agency considers “… several factors when determining whether to collect … samples during an inspection, such as if samples are necessary at the time to provide evidence for a violation…”

A sample of Zoologics Duck and Vegetable Meals for Dogs, Lot #3077 was taken for Salmonella and foreign object analysis by Washington state during the 2016 joint inspection.

On Aug. 8, 2016, the company “… voluntarily removed from market and destroyed…” all of Lot #3077 after the state reported finding Salmonella in the sample. A recall wasn’t required because none of the product had been distributed to customers, according to an FDA spokesperson.

The Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from 2017 showed Darwin reported performing routine environmental swabbing for coliform and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which are used to measure the effectiveness of sanitation and cleaning procedures, respectively. There was no mention in the EIR of routine monitoring for pathogens such as Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes.

The recent spate of Salmonella-related recalls began in September 2017, triggered by a consumer complaint lodged with FDA and involving a dead kitten, according to an FDA spokesperson. The agency found Salmonella in a sample of Natural Selections Duck Meals for Cats, Lot #38277, manufactured on June 1, 2017.

Darwin’s initiated a recall of Lot #38277 on Sept. 8, 2017.

The recall earlier this month of two varieties of Zoologics Meals for Dogs also came about following a consumer complaint lodged with FDA. The complainant, whose German Shepherd had suffered from diarrhea for nine consecutive months and had tested positive for Salmonella, provided unopened samples of the two products to FDA for analysis.

The lab report, a copy of which was provided to Food Safety News by the consumer, confirms the presence of both Salmonella and Listeria innocua in both products. Listeria innocua is a common environmental contaminant and is not considered to be a pathogen. However, it is treated in some quality assurance programs as an indicator species for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

As of Feb. 13, FDA had investigated six complaints of sickness and death in animals that had been fed one or more of the recently recalled products.

An FDA spokesperson declined to comment on whether the agency would be conducting an inspection of Darwin’s manufacturing facilities in light of the recent series of product recalls, citing FDA’s policy against discussing ongoing investigations. However, the spokesperson said an inspection would be typical in a follow-up investigation.

The FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about this and other pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

This story first appeared on Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

Darwin’s Pet Food pathogen problems ongoing for 14 months

Judy, who owns Blitz the German shepherd, took this photo of Darwin’s brand raw dog food when she opened it and noticed it was off-color.

Since October 2016, Darwin’s Natural Pet Food has recalled eight production lots of raw pet food. In all, the manufacturer recalled more than 23 tons of cat and dog food during a 14-month period.

The recalls include seven dog foods and one cat food. Customers who purchased the recalled products were notified of the recalls by email — two to three months after the production dates of each batch. No recall notices were posted for the general public on the company’s website or the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

Darwin’s has not responded to a request for comment on their recalls or their follow-up actions.

The company, incorporated under the name Arrow Reliance Inc., recalled the pet foods because of positive test results showing Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria can cause serious infections in people who handle the pet food. It can also contaminate surfaces, containers and utensils, which can spread the bacteria to foods, hands and anything coming into contact with the contaminated items.

Several of Darwin’s customers say there were product safety and package quality issues that predate the latest round of recalls.

Blitz

Judy’s story
Judy adopted Blitz, an abandoned German shepherd, from an Orange County, California rescue organization in June 2012. Described by his owner as a gentle giant, he is thought to be 7 to 9 years old. About a year ago, he became partially paralyzed after developing inter-vertebral disk disease. He gets around with the aid of a special wheelchair and loves to swim.

Judy has been a customer of Darwin’s since 2012-2013. The food agreed with Blitz. His coat was soft, his stools were normal, and he didn’t itch.

About a year ago, Judy noticed a change in the Darwin’s products. The packaging was leaky, and the meat quality appeared to have deteriorated. She reported her concern to a company representative, who offered to reimburse her for the leaky packages of dog food.

According to Judy, Blitz began to suffer bad bouts of diarrhea in April 2017. He was treated with antibiotics on the assumption he was infected with giardia. Despite treatment, Blitz continued to suffer cycles of diarrhea, and was recently lab-diagnosed with a Salmonella infection.

Judy was never notified of the recalls, as she had not received any of the recalled production lots. Upon contacting the company by email after learning about the recalls, she was assured that leaky and off-color packages of meat she had been sold were “good to use.” She is now working directly with the Food and Drug Administration regarding the situation.

“I just want good, healthy food for my dog,” Judy said. “Is that so much to ask?”

Jerry’s story
Jerry volunteers at the German shepherd rescue center where Blitz was adopted. His 7-year-old German shepherd, Yavol, was 4-months-old when Jerry rescued her.

Yavol has been eating Darwin’s products for more than a year. She has suffered many bouts of lethargy, lack of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting. Yavol has been treated multiple times with generic flagyl and, on a few occasions, with antibiotics, but her digestive problems have persisted.

For the past six months or more, the Darwin’s products Jerry has been getting have had leaking packages and off-colored meat. He reported the issues to the company on multiple occasions. After being told at first that the product was safe to use, he persisted and was eventually supplied with replacement packages as compensation for the off-color and leaky packages.

Jerry did not receive notification of any recalls from the company.

Darwin’s recalled products as of Dec. 21, 2017
Darwin’s Natural Selections brand, frozen, raw Turkey with Organic Vegetable Meals for Dogs

  • Package size: 2 lbs.
  • Number of packages recalled: 1192
  • Date recall initiated: 10/17/2016
  • Manufacturing date: 7/20/2016
  • Lot number: 3142070
  • Reason for recall: Listeria monocytogenes

Darwin’s Natural Selections brand, frozen, raw Beef with Organic Vegetables Meals for Dogs

  • Package size: 2 lbs.
  • Number of packages recalled: 2391
  • Date recall initiated: 10/17/2016
  • Manufacturing date: 7/21/2016
  • Lot number: 3146070
  • Reason for recall: Listeria monocytogenes

ZooLogics brand, frozen, raw Turkey with Vegetable Meals for Dogs

  • Package size: 2 lbs.
  • Number of packages recalled: 1337
  • Date recall initiated: 10/17/2016
  • Manufacturing date: 7/25/2016
  • Lot number: 3155070
  • Reason for recall: Listeria monocytogenes

Natural Selections Duck Meals for Cats, frozen

  • Package size: 2 lb. net weight flexible film, partitioned into 4 quadrants
  • Number of packages recalled: 1560
  • Date recall initiated: 9/8/2017
  • Manufacturing date: 06/01/2017
  • Lot number: 38277
  • Reason for recall: Salmonella

Natural Selections Chicken with Organic Vegetables Meals for Dogs

  • Package size: 2 lb. net weight flexible film, partitioned into 4 quadrants
  • Number of packages recalled: 6,306
  • Date recall initiated: 12/4/2017
  • Manufacturing date: 09/26/2017
  • Lot number: 40727
  • Reason for recall: Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes

Natural Selections Duck With Organic Vegetables Meals for Dog

  • Package size: 2 lb. net weight flexible film, partitioned into 4 quadrants
  • Number of packages recalled: 3,924
  • Date recall initiated: 12/4/2017
  • Manufacturing date: 09/29/2017
  • Lot number: 40487
  • Reason for recall: Salmonella

Natural Selections Turkey With Organic Vegetables Meals for Dogs

  • Package size: 2 lb. net weight flexible film, partitioned into 4 quadrants
  • Number of packages recalled: 7123
  • Date recall initiated: 12/4/2017
  • Manufacturing date: 08/24/2017 and 09/20/2017
  • Lot number: 39937 and 40507
  • Reason for recall: Salmonella

What consumers need to know
Consult the list of recalled products and do not feed your pet any food that has been recalled by the manufacturer.

Do not feed your pet any food that appears to be spoiled, off-color, off-odor, or otherwise defective.

Take special care to avoid any drippings from thawed food that could contaminate your work surfaces.

If your pet is suffering from diarrhea, be extra careful about washing your hands before handling or preparing food.

FDA tips on using raw pet food
Because raw pet food is more likely than other types of pet food to contain Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and other pathogens, the single best thing consumers can do to prevent infection is to not feed pets a raw diet. However, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine is aware that some people prefer to feed their pets this type of diet.

If you choose to feed raw pet food to your pet, be aware that you can infect yourself with Salmonella or Listeria by spreading microscopic amounts of the bacteria from the contaminated food to your mouth.

For instance, you may accidentally ingest the bacteria if you touch your mouth while preparing the raw food or after handling a contaminated utensil. If you get Salmonella or Listeria on your hands or clothing, you can’t see it or smell it, but you can spread the bacteria to other people, objects and surfaces.

To prevent infection with Salmonella and Listeria

  • Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw pet food, and after touching surfaces or objects that have come in contact with the raw food. Potential contaminated surfaces include countertops and the inside of refrigerators and microwaves. Potential contaminated objects include kitchen utensils, feeding bowls and cutting boards.
  • Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects that come in contact with raw pet food. First wash with hot soapy water and then follow with a disinfectant. A solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach to 4 cups of water is an effective disinfectant. For a larger supply of the disinfectant solution, add ¼ cup bleach to 1 gallon water. You can also run items through the dishwasher after each use.

This article first appeared on Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.