These Brands of Dog Food Have Been Recalled

It’s time to check the labels on your dog food: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers and veterinarians that products from 18 different brands of dog food are part of a voluntary recall. The food has all been manufactured by Sunshine Mills, but under various brand names, and may contain potentially dangerous levels of a mold toxin. Here’s what to know.

Why is the food being recalled?

Sunshine Mills announced the initial voluntary recall on September 2, 2020, after a retail product sample of their dog food was found by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry to contain an unsafe level of aflatoxin—a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus. When ingested at high levels, it can result in serious illness or death for dogs and other pets. And just because you can’t see any mold on the food, it doesn’t mean the toxin is not there, according to the FDA.

The voluntary recall was expanded on October 8, and the FDA issued a public advisory regarding all the dog food brands involved to make sure people don’t feed the potentially toxic food—which may have been purchased a few weeks ago and is still sitting on their shelves—to their dogs.

What does aflatoxin poisoning do to dogs?

According to the FDA, pets with aflatoxin poisoning may experience symptoms including:

• Sluggishness
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes, gums or skin due to liver damage)
• Diarrhea

Because dogs don’t tend to have much variety in their diets, when they eat food containing aflatoxin, it can build up over time, in some cases causing long-term liver issues and/or death. It’s also important to note that some pets suffer liver damage without showing any symptoms, so even if your dog seems to be OK, if it has been eating any of the 18 recalled brands, their humans should contact their veterinarians. Currently, there is no evidence that humans who handle products containing the toxic mold are at risk of poisoning, the FDA says.

Which dog foods are involved in the recall?

The FDA says that it will be continuing to update their advisory if/when other products are found to contain the toxic mold, but for now, here are the Sunshine Mills brands and products being recalled. The lot codes for the foods are located on the back of each bag.:

• Family Pet Meaty Cuts Beef, Chicken & Cheese Premium Dog Food 4 lb. UPC 3225120694Lot Code TD3 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TD1 5/APRIL/2020
• Family Pet Meaty Cuts Beef, Chicken & Cheese Premium Dog Food 14 lb. UPC 3225118078Lot Code TB1 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TB2 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TB3 3/APRIL/2020
• Family Pet Meaty Cuts Beef, Chicken & Cheese Premium Dog Food 28 lb. UPC 3225120694Lot Code TB3 3/APRIL/2020
• Heartland Farms Grilled Favorites Beef Chicken & Cheese Flavor Dog Food 14 lb. UPC 7015514299Lot Code TB1 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TB2 4/APRIL/2020
• Heartland Farms Grilled Favorites Beef Chicken & Cheese Flavor Dog Food 31 lb. UPC 7015514301Lot Code TA2 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA3 4/APRIL/2020
• Paws Happy Life Butcher’s Choice Dog Food 16 lb. UPC 3680035763Lot Code TA1 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA2 4/APRIL/2020
• Champ Mini Chunk Dog Food Beef and Chicken Flavor, 12 lb. bags, UPC 7328315416Lot Code TC2 3/APRIL/2020
• Field Trial Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food, 16 lb. bags, UPC 7015514530Lot Code TC2 4/APRIL/2020
• Good Dog Brand Dog Food Hi-Energy Formula, 50 lb. bags, UPC 5216624165Lot Code TA1 5/APRIL/2020
• Hunter’s Special Dog Food Hi Energy Formula, 50 lb. bags, UPC 7015510145Lot Code TA1 5/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA2 5/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA3 5/APRIL/2020
• Hunter’s Special Dog Food Maintenance Formula, 50 lb. bags, UPC 7015510135Lot Code TB3 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TB1 5/APRIL/2020
• Hunter’s Special Farm & Ranch Recipe Super Chunks Dog Food, 50 lb. bags, UPC 70155 10182Lot Code TC2 5/APRIL/2020Lot Code TC3 5/APRIL/2020
• Old Glory Hearty Beef & Chicken Flavor Dog Food, 4 lb. bags, UPC 7015514339Lot Code TE3 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TE2 4/APRIL/2020
• Old Glory Hearty Beef & Chicken Flavor Dog Food, 12.75 lb. bags, UPC 7015514298Lot Code TA3 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TB1 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TC1 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TC2 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TC3 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA1 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TC1 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA2 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TB2 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TC2 4/APRIL/2020
• Paws Happy Life Nutritionally Complete Dog Food, 17 lb. bags, UPC 3680042561Lot Code TC2 4/APRIL/2020
• Pet Expert Always Fit Formula, 50 lb. bags, UPC 5208887976Lot Code TC2 5/APRIL/2020
• Principle Super Premium Natural Dog Food Breeder Pack, 40 lb. bags, UPC 580179 586032Lot Code TA3 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA1 5/APRIL/2020
• Retriever Bites & Bones Adult Complete Nutrition Savory Chicken Flavor, 52 lb. bags, UPC 4939422642Lot Code TC3 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TC1 5/APRIL/2020
• River Bend Dog Food Basic Nutrition, 40 lb. bags, No UPCLot Code TC1 5/APRIL/2020
• River Bend Dog Food Basic Nutrition, 50 lb. bags, No UPC Lot Code TC1 5/APRIL/2020
• River Bend Dog Food Select, 50 lb. bags, No UPC Lot Code TB3 4/APRIL/2020
• Sportsman’s Pride Maintenance Adult Formula Dog Food, 20 lb. bags, UPC 7015510082Lot Code TB1 5/APRIL/2020
• Sportsman’s Pride Maintenance Adult Formula Dog Food, 50 lb. bags, UPC 7015510110Lot Code TB1 5/APRIL/2020
• Sprout Bites & Bones, 50 lb. bags, UPC 7015505091Lot Code TC2 4/APRIL/2020
• Sprout Hi-Protein (cat food), 20 lb. bags, UPC 70155505120Lot Code TI2 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TI3 4/APRIL/2020
• Sprout Hi-Protein (cat food), 40 lb. bags, UPC 7015505119Lot Code TI3 4/APRIL/2020
• Thrifty Adult Dog Food, 12 lb. bags, UPC 7015513096Lot Code TI1 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TI2 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TI3 3/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA2 4/APRIL/2020
• Sprout Maintenance, 40 lb. bags, UPC 7015505096Lot Code TB1 5/APRIL/2020
• Sprout Puppy, 20 lb. bags, UPC 7015505095Lot Code TA3 4/APRIL/2020Lot Code TA1 5/APRIL/2020
• Top Runner Premium Dog Food, 50 lb. bags, UPC 3540650070Lot Code TB1 3/APRIL/2020
• Whiskers & Tails Adult Recipe Complete Dog Food, 17 lb. bags, UPC 2114003022Lot Code TC2 4/APRIL/2020

What to do if you’ve purchased recalled dog food

If your dog looks or acts sick after eating these brands of food, call your veterinarian right away. Bring your dog’s full diet history to your vet, along with photos of the labels (including lot numbers) of the food that you suspect made them ill.

Of course, don’t feed the recalled products to your dog or any other pets. If you’re not sure how to dispose of the food, contact the company listed on the package for further instructions, or throw it away in a way that ensures children, pets, and wildlife cannot access them. Finally, sanitize your dog’s food bowls, scoops, and storage containers using bleach, rinsing well afterwards with water, and drying thoroughly, the FDA recommends.

Here are the instructions for getting a refund, courtesy of Sunshine Mills:

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers may contact Sunshine Mills, Inc. customer service at (800) 705-2111 from 7AM to 4PM Central Time, Monday through Friday, or by email at [email protected] for additional information.

How to report a suspected case of aflatoxin poisoning to the FDA

If you suspect your dog has been poisoned by the recalled dog food, it’s a good idea to report that to the FDA. You can do that electronically through the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. If possible, the FDA says that it’s most helpful if you can work with your veterinarian to submit your pet’s medical records as part of your report. More information on lodging complaint to the FDA can be found on their website, specifically: How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.