Who owns Sportmix? FDA increases dog food recall after 70 pooches die and 80 fall sick due to poisoning
More than 70 dogs have died and more than 80 are sick after eating a certain brand of pet food, according to the Food and Drug Administration, prompting an expansion of the original Sportmix recall.
In December, Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. and the FDA issued a recall for only a few brands of dog food after 28 dogs had died after reportedly eating the food. The food had been made at the company’s Oklahoma plant. The Food and Drug Administration said in a statement that it has been “aware of more than 70 dogs that have died and more than 80 that are sick after eating Sportmix pet food". The FDA is warning pet owners to stop feeding their pet the recalled products and talk to their veterinarian.
Jeff Nun is the president of Midwestern Pet Foods, which has been carrying the legacy of Nunn's family of making food products for pets. The official website says, "At Midwestern Pet Foods, we’ve been feeding pets for generations. We’re a family-owned business now in our fourth generation. Over the years, we’ve learned a lot about family, pet companions, trust and making high-quality pet food & treats. We care about pets, yours and ours, so we never compromise on quality or nutrition. We still have those same Midwestern values that Grandpa Nunn had back in 1926!"
"There have been reports of illnesses and deaths in dogs associated with certain lots of products. No human illnesses have been reported," the company said in a recall notice. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have expanded this recall to cover all corn products containing pet foods with expiration dates before 07/09/22."
The pet food potentially contained deadly levels of aflatoxins. Not all the deaths have been confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning, however. Aflatoxins are produced by a fungus that can grow on corn and other grains used as components in pet food. At high levels, they can cause illness and death in pets. Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice and/or diarrhea. In some cases, pet owners have reported that their pet suffered liver damage, but did not show any other symptoms.
The FDA said in December it was aware of 28 deaths and eight illnesses in dogs that ate the recalled product. Lots of the following pet food products have been recalled if the date/lot code includes an expiration date on or before “07/09/22” and includes “05” in the date/lot code, which identifies products made in the Oklahoma plant.
Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk, 40 lb. bag
Pro Pac Performance Puppy, 40 lb. bag
Splash Fat Cat 32%, 50 lb. bag
Nunn Better Maintenance, 50 lb. bag
Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag
Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag
Sportmix Maintenance, 44 lb. bag
Sportmix Maintenance, 50 lb. bag
Sportmix High Protein, 50 lb. bag
Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag
Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag
Sportmix Stamina, 44 lb. bag
Sportmix Stamina, 50 lb. bag
Sportmix Bite Size, 40 lb. bag
Sportmix Bite Size, 44 lb. bag
Sportmix High Energy, 44 lb. bag
Sportmix High Energy, 50 lb. bag
Sportmix Premium Puppy, 16.5 lb. bag
Sportmix Premium Puppy, 33 lb. bag