UPDATE: More than 130 dog deaths may be linked to recalled pet food

The Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to Midwestern Pet Foods on Tuesday after it was discovered that its food products may have been responsible for the deaths of 130 dogs and illnesses in hundreds of others, CBS News reported.

The letter was sent by the FDA after inspections revealed “apparent violations” of federal law that were shared across Midwestern’s plants. “These conditions likely contributed to the illness or death of hundreds of dogs” who’d eaten dry dog food from Midwestern, the letter states, according to CBS News.

An earlier inspection in January found that Midwestern brand Sportmix had high levels of aflatoxin, or toxic mold, according to an FDA report.

Three brands of Sportmix products for dogs and cats, made by Midwestern Pet Foods, initially were recalled after 28 deaths and eight illnesses in dogs that consumed the pet food.

The company said it has increased the number of brands that it has recalled after 42 more dogs died in the last two weeks.

“As of January 11, 2021, FDA is aware of more than 70 pets that have died and more than 80 pets that are sick after eating Sportmix pet food. Not all of these cases have been officially confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning through laboratory testing or veterinary record review. This count is approximate and may not reflect the total number of pets affected,” the FDA posted.

Multiple samples of the food were tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. It found “very high levels” of aflatoxin, which is produced by a mold that can grow on corn and other grains used in pet food, according to the FDA.

The recall now includes all Midwestern Pet Foods dry dog and cat foods containing corn, manufactured in the company’s Oklahoma plant, and having an expiration date on or before July 9, 2022.

The list of recalled dry pet food products announced by Midwestern Pet Foods Inc. on Dec. 30 includes:

• Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag Exp 03/02/22/05/L2 Exp 03/02/22/05/L3 Exp 03/03/22/05/L2
• Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag Exp 03/02/22/05/L3
• Sportmix Premium High Energy, 50 lb. bag Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
• Sportmix Premium High Energy, 44 lb. bag Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
• Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
• Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag Exp 03/03/22/05/L2 Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

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

Lot code information may be found on the back of the bag and will appear in a three-line code, with the top line in format “EXP 03/03/22/05/L#/B###/HH:MM”

The products were distributed to online retailers and stores nationally, the FDA said.

Pet owners who have the products should contact the company for further instructions or throw out the products so children, pets and wildlife cannot access them.

Signs of aflatoxin poisoning include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice and diarrhea.