NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The Food and Drug Administration has announced a recall on several pet food products after 28 dogs dies across the nation.
The FDA says three brands of Sportmix products for dogs and cats, which are manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, may contain potentially fatal levels of a toxin called aflatoxin.
The administration says it is aware of 28 deaths and eight illnesses in dogs that ate the now recalled products.
Multiple samples of the pet food were tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, which found them to contain very high levels of the toxin, which is produced by a certain type of mold known to cause illness and death in pets. The toxin can be present even if there is no visible mold.
The list of recalled dry pet food products is:
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
The lot code, which begins with the letters "Exp," is located on the back of the bag.
The products were distributed to online retailers and stores across the U.S., according to the FDA.
Pet owners that have the recalled products should contact Midwestern Pet Foods for further instructions, or throw away the products in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them.
Signs of aflatoxin poisoning include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice and diarrhea. The FDA says there is no evident that pet owners who handle the products are at risk of poisoning.
Any pet owner who thinks their animal may be suffering from aflatoxin poisoning should contact a veterinarian immediately.