Pet Food Recalled In New York Due To Salmonella Concerns

NEW YORK CITY — A pet food company is voluntarily recalling some of its dog and cat food products, including some distributed in New York, due to potential salmonella contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The FDA said no pets are known to have been sickened from eating the products that were distributed to stores nationwide and online retailers.

The recalled products are made by Indiana-based Midwestern Pet Foods and include certain lots of the following brands:

• Canine X
• Earthborn
• Holistic
• Venture
• Unrefined
• Sportmix
• Sportmix Wholesomes
• Pro Pac
• Pro Pac Ultimates
• Sportstrail
• Meridian

For specific expiration dates and lot numbers, see the FDA recall notice. Photos of labels of the affected products are also found on the website.

Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and display other symptoms, including diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting, according to the recall notice. Some pets may experience a loss of appetite and abdominal pain.

The FDA says people aren’t at risk of salmonella infection from handling food itself, especially if they wash their hands, though infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and spread it to other animals or people. If you think your pet is infected, call your veterinarian.

The FDA says people who bought the affected dog and cat food should dispose of it in a place that children, pets and wildlife cannot access; to wash and sanitize pet food bowls, storage containers, scoops and cups; and to wash and sanitize their own hands when they’re done.

More information may be obtained by contacting Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs at info@midwesternpetfoods.com or 800-474-4163, ext 455 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.

The Midwestern Pet Foods recall is separate from the recall earlier this year when the company expanded a 2020 recall of three of its brands after at least 70 dogs died from aflatoxin contamination.

The affected products in that recall were produced in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and distributed to retail stores nationwide and online distributors. Varieties of the Pro Pac, Splash Fat Cat, Nunn, Sportstrail and Sportmix dog and cat foods were affected.

Aflatoxin is produced by a mold that grows in corn and other grains used to make pet food and can cause illness and death when present in high levels in pet foods.