Bravo! is recalling select lots of Bravo! pet food due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The following Bravo! pet food products are being recalled: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand) All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes Product Numbers: 52-102, 52-105, 52-110 Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier BRAVO! BALANCE PREMIUM TURKEY FORMULA (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT) 3 lb. box with (12) 4oz. burgers Product Number: 31-401 Best Used By Dates: 1/07/16 and 2/11/16 RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand) All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes Product Numbers: 42-102, 42-105, 42-110 Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BASIC FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand) 2lb. tubes Product Number: 42-202 Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF & BEEF HEART FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand) 5lb. tubes Product Number: 53-130 Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! 100% PURE & NATURAL PREMIUM GRASS-FED BUFFALO FOR DOGS AND CATS (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT) NET WT 2LBS (32 OZ) .91KG (Tubes) Product Number: 72-222 Best Used By Date: 1/7/16 BRAVO! TURKEY BALANCE FORMULA (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT) NET WT 2 LBS (32 OZ) .09KG, Chub (tube) Product Number: 31-402 Best Used By Dates: 1/7/16 and 2/11/16 NET WT 5 LBS (80 OZ) 2.3KG, Chub (tube) Product Number: 31-405 Best Used By Dates: 1/7/16 and 2/11/16 RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT) 5 LBS (80 OZ) 2.3KG, Chub (tube) Product Number: 42-105 Best Used By Date: 2/11/16 Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Additionally, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. If you or your pet had contact with the recalled product, you are advised to watch for symptoms that may develop. Common symptoms associated with Listeria infection include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you, your pet or a family member is experiencing these symptoms, you are urged to contact a medical professional. According to a company release, Bravo! discontinued all manufacturing in New Zealand on Oct. 10, 2013, and will work immediately with distributors and retailers to properly dispose of any affected product left on freezer shelves. The recalled Bravo! pet food products, which can be identified by the batch ID code (best used by date) printed on the side of the plastic tube or on a label on the box, were dispersed nationwide to distributors, retail stores, internet retailers and directly to consumers. At the time of this release, a limited number of dogs were reported to have experienced nausea and diarrhea that may have been associated with the recalled Bravo! pet food products. The company has received no reports of human illness as a result of these products. Pet owners who have product(s) affected by this food recall are advised to dispose of the product(s) in a safe manner such as placing the item(s) in a securely covered trash receptacle. Customers can also return to the store where the product(s) were purchased and submit the Product Recall Claim Form available on the Bravo! website www.bravopetfoods.com for a full refund or store credit. More information on the Bravo! recall can also be found at www.bravopetfoods.com, or call toll free 1-866-922-9222.
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April 16, 2014 - The Purina Animal Nutrition LLC feed plant in Portland, Ore., has initiated a limited recall of certain poultry feeds due to the potential for lower-than-expected vitamin and trace mineral levels. The products were distributed to retailers in Oregon and Washington. Inadequate vitamin and trace mineral levels can result in health problems, including mortality, in poultry. No customer complaints have been received to date. The products and lot numbers involved in the recall are: The problem was discovered during the investigation of an ingredient inventory discrepancy. Retailers have been contacted and instructed to immediately withdraw from sale the recalled product and notify customers who purchased the product. Customers should discontinue feeding the product immediately. Customers who purchased this product should return remaining bags to their retailer. For more information on the product recall, contact Customer Service at 1-800-245-5333, Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM PDT. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 8, 2014 - The Robert Abady Dog Food Co., LLC of Poughkeepsie, NY, is recalling its 2 lb, 5 lb & 15 lb boxes of "Abady Highest Quality Maintenance & Growth Formula for Cats" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The recalled "Highest Quality Maintenance & Growth Formula for Cats" were distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. The product comes in a 2 lb, 5 lb & 15 lb, corrugated boxes with plastic liners marked with lot # 14029/21 stamped on the right side top of the box. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Salmonella in some 2 lb, 5 lb & 15 lb boxes of "Abady Highest Quality Cat Maintenance & Stress Formula for Cats." Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem. Consumers who have purchased 2 lb, 5 lb & 15 lb boxes of "Abady Highest Quality Maintenance & Growth Formula for Cats" are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-845-473-1900, Monday – Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm, ET. Med-Vet International Issues Nationwide Recall of Veterinary 1/2cc U-40 Insulin Syringes Due to Mismarked Syringe Barrels February 20, 2014 - On Feb. 14, 2014 , Med-Vet International initiated a nationwide recall of 140 boxes of 1/2cc U-40 insulin syringes. The syringes have been found to be labeled with 40 units per 1/2cc syringe and they should be marked with only 20 units per 1/2cc, which potentially could result in lower than prescribed doses of insulin. Animals receiving subtherapeutic doses of insulin may exhibit signs and symptoms consistent with hyperglycemia including, but not limited to dehydration, increase in thirst, increase in urination, malaise or lethargy, and urinary tract infection in addition to increasing the risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis. The long term failure to adequately control blood glucose levels can result in vision problems, neuropathy, and damage to the pancreas. Consumers who have these insulin syringes should quarantine all products subject to recall. In addition, if you may have further distributed this product, please identify the customers at once and notify them at once of this product recall and to quarantine the product. Recalled 1/2cc U-40 insulin syringes were manufactured May, 2012 and distributed from Jan 2013 to Feb 2014 to consumers, animal hospitals, animal shelters, farmers, and veterinarians. The following 1/2cc U-40 insulin syringes have been recalled:
Med-Vet International voluntarily recalled the syringes after becoming aware of the mislabeling. Med- Vet International has notified the FDA of this recall action. No injuries have been reported to date. Med-Vet International is notifying its distributors and customers by email and recall letter and is arranging for return of all recalled 1/2cc U-40 insulin syringes. Med-Vet International distributed the 1/2cc U-40 insulin syringes nationally to veterinarians and customers. Consumers with questions may contact the company via telephone at 1-800-544-7521 between the hours of 9am and 5pm central time. Consumer may also contact the company via e-mail at customerservice@shopmedvet.com. Sogeval has issued a voluntary recall due to the incorrect labeling of a lot of Synovial Flex Soft Chews. The following products have been included in the recall:
"Synovial-Flex TRP soft chews," according to the Sogeval website, "are recommended to support healthy joint function in dogs." If you have purchased Synovial Flex Soft Chews involved in the recall, please contact Sogeval at 1-800-877-0177 Two brands of chicken jerky pet treats will soon reenter the market after years of reports of pet illness—even death—associated with consumption of jerky treats made with chicken sourced from China. Milo’s Kitchen and Nestlé Purina (the maker of Waggin’ Train treats) say that since the voluntary recall of their jerky treats last year due to antibiotic residue, they have reevaluated, revamped, reformulated and even discontinued certain products mired in suspicion and a nearly decade-old U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation. Now manufacturers are staking their name on the belief that they finally have it right. Waggin’ Train products—including Chicken Jerky Tenders, Smoky Jerky Snacks and Jerky Duos—were back on shelves in February. Milo’s Kitchen will reintroduce its Chicken Grillers and Chicken Jerky Recipe treats in March, along with a new product, Burger Bites. A standout difference between the two relaunches? Nestlé Purina has decided to continue manufacturing Chicken Jerky Tenders in China. Bill Salzman, director of corporate communications for Nestlé Purina, says the company now uses a single chicken supplier and a single manufacturer in China that’s part of a U.S.-based company. He says the reason Nestlé Purina continues to source its chicken from China for the jerky product is simple: “In China, dark meat chicken is preferred for human food production, so the quality white meat chicken is more readily available to us in the quantities we need to make our jerky dog treats.” Waggin’ Train’s Smoky Jerky Snacks and Jerky Duos, however, will be made in the United States with chicken sourced exclusively from a single U.S. supplier. “We’ve made significant enhancements from start to finish to ensure the quality and safety of all of our Waggin’ Train treats,” Salzman says. He says sourcing meat from a single supplier was essential: “Sourcing exclusively from a single chicken supplier means greater control over all aspects of the chicken supply, including how the chickens are fed, raised and processed.” He adds that Nestlé Purina will also have its own quality inspectors at the Chinese manufacturing plant to oversee the production process. For Milo’s Kitchen, sourcing its chicken from China was no longer an option. “We’re not bringing the products with ingredients sourced from China back,” says Geoff Tanner, vice president of pet snacks for Milo’s Kitchen. Instead, the company decided to reformulate the products and source 100 percent of its meat from the United States, exiting China completely. “The brand Milo’s Kitchen is a brand that’s grounded in a philosophy that the dog is an equal member of the family and deserves ingredients that are as good as our own food.” Tanner says Milo’s Kitchen looked to its customers to guide its decisions on how to reformulate and reintroduce the products. “We went to our consumers and we asked them what would they want from a food or a treat to live up to [our] philosophy,” he says. Results from focus groups and quantitative studies told the company that customers wanted real beef or chicken as the No. 1 ingredient, ingredients 100 percent sourced from the United States, and no artificial flavors or colors, Tanner says. Waggin’ Train treats also offer chicken as the No. 1 ingredient and no artificial colors or flavors. Packaging touts no artificial preservatives. Salzman says he is confident Waggin’ Train now has the highest-quality food safety program in the industry. “Our treats are quality-checked at each step and quality-monitored under a comprehensive food safety program designed to prevent potential quality issues before they can occur,” he says. Purina has increased its product testing to include surveillance for Salmonella, melamine and antibiotics. “We have a rigorous evaluation and sampling program for all raw materials used in our products and have quality assurance specialists at each producing facility who are trained to sample or analyze incoming ingredients,” Salzman says. Consumers will also notice that for the first time Purina will lend its logo to Waggin’ Train packaging. “We’ve added the Purina logo to every package as a sign of our confidence in the quality and safety of our treats,” Salzman says. Where the meat is sourced will also be available on the back label of Waggin’ Train products. Serving size recommendations will also be included on packaging. “We remind pet owners that treats are treats and should be fed according to a dog’s weight, using the treating guidelines on each package,” Salzman says. “We recommend that caloric intake from treats not exceed 10 percent of a dog’s total daily caloric requirements.” In fact, Waggin’ Train states on the front of its packaging that treats are intended for adult dogs five pounds and over. Feeding guidelines are also on Milo’s Kitchen treat packaging. Its guidelines do not exclude puppies or small dogs but recommend that treats make up no more than 15 percent of a dog’s caloric intake and strongly advise against exceeding the guidelines. “Your dog’s veterinarian can also provide guidance on how many calories your dog may consume daily,” the Milo’s Kitchen website states. However, many veterinarians, including C. A. Tony Buffington, DVM, MS, PhD, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says he would not feed his dog the revamped jerky treats—or any “snacks” between meals, as he calls them. In general, he believes these snacks are unnecessary. “I am a huge fan of treats, which are things that bring pets joy. I am not a fan of snacks because it risks weight gain and teaches pets to beg,” Buffington says. He advises veterinarians to counsel clients not to feed pets snacks of any kind. et Salzman says the “real meat” segment of the U.S. pet treats category continues to grow and that chicken jerky dog treats are enjoyed by millions of dogs every year. “Chicken jerky treats are very popular with dog owners because they’re high-quality treats made with real meat and simple ingredients,” Salzman says. The ingredient list for Waggin’ Train’s Chicken Jerky Tenders includes chicken breast—sourced from China—and vegetable glycerin. Milo’s Kitchen’s Chicken Jerky Strips ingredient list isn’t quite that simple but is domestically sourced (see ingredient list at the end of this story). Both products contain glycerin, an ingredient some have pointed to as a potential culprit in jerky-related illness. Glycerin can be made two ways, from natural oils and fats or as a byproduct of biodiesel manufacturing. It has been alleged that some Chinese manufacturers may have used the abundant and potentially toxic biodiesel glycerin instead of the higher-grade glycerin consumers expect. Salzman says Waggin’ Train sources its glycerin from a supplier in Malaysia. Milo’s Kitchen glycerin is sourced here in the United States. Both are pharmaceutical-grade products approved for use in human foods. However, many consumers—and dogs, for that matter—aren’t thinking about glycerin when they buy (or eat) treats. For Milo’s Kitchen the revamp didn’t just improve ingredient quality but palatability as well. “The product was reformulated to be a little moister instead of the hard jerky product we originally had,” Tanner says. “You can tear this product. It’s much softer and consumers said they preferred it.” Despite the ongoing FDA investigation, neither company seems worried about demand for its products. Both say the relaunch of jerky treats was consumer-driven. “We’ve heard from thousands of consumers who want Waggin’ Train chicken jerky dog treats for their dogs,” Salzman says. “We’ve worked very hard over the past year to strengthen our already strict quality control measures to ensure Waggin’ Train treats meet Purina’s high standards.” Tanner believes no longer sourcing meat from China brings the entire Milo’s Kitchen treat portfolio in line with company philosophy and with what customers expect from the brand. “I feel really good that we’re responding to our consumers on what they asked. That’s what a good company does,” Tanner says. “It’s a different approach than Nestlé. We decided to bring it all back. I know we’re doing the right thing here.” Still, the FDA and the American Veterinary Medical Association are asking veterinarians to continue to be aware of jerky-related illness and to send patient samples for testing when it is suspected. To see the FDA’s “Dear Veterinarian” letter explaining how clinicians can assist in the investigation, go to fda.gov. The agency also provides a fact sheet explaining jerky-related illness to pet owners, including signs to look out for if pets are fed jerky treats. Waggin’ Train ingredients Chicken Jerky Tenders: chicken breast, vegetable glycerin Smoky Jerky Snacks: chicken, brown sugar, salt, glycerin, natural smoke flavor, mixed-tocopherols (a preservative) Jerky Duos: chicken, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, salt, glycerin, natural smoke flavor, mixed-tocopherols (a preservative) Milo’s Kitchen ingredients Chicken Jerky Strips: Chicken, soy flour, sugar, glycerin, textured soy protein, salt, guar gum, sodium tripolyphosphate, monoglyceride, garlic powder, sorbic acid, citric acid, BHA (used as a preservative), natural smoke flavor, annatto color, onion extract. Chicken Grillers: chicken breast, rice flour, glycerin, gelatin, soy flour, wheat gluten, modified tapioca starch, sugar, soy protein concentrate, salt, monoglyceride, sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium sorbate (used as a preservative), citric acid, caramel color, garlic powder, natural smoke flavor, BHA (used as a preservative), dried egg white. Pro-Pet Recalls Select Dry Dog and Cat Foods Pro-Pet LLC, St. Marys, Ohio, has initiated a voluntary recall of a limited number of Dry Dog and Cat Foods for possible Salmonella contamination. A single field test indicated products manufactured during a two day period, on a single production line may have the potential for Salmonella contamination. Pro-Pet LLC is voluntarily recalling the potentially impacted products made during this timeframe. There have been no reports of illness related to this product to date. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. No other products/lot numbers are affected by this recall.
Customers should immediately discontinue use of any impacted product and contact Pro-Pet at 1-888-765-4190 for disposition. For more information on the recall, customers can contact the customer service line for Pro-Pet at 1-888-765-4190. Customer service representatives will be available Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm CT. PMI Nutrition, LLC (PMI) has issued a voluntary recall for 20 lb. bags of Red Flannel® Cat Formula cat food due to possible Salmonella contamination. The following lot number and best-by-date is included in the recall: Best by 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A (lot number) The UPC code for the recalled product is: 7 42869 00058 5 According a FDA press release, the recalled product was manufactured by a third-party for PMI and sold through dealers to customers distributed in the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia. No other products or lot numbers have been affected. Common symptoms associated with Salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. If you, your pet, or a family member is experiencing these symptoms, you are urged to contact a medical professional. If you have purchased the affected product, discontinue use and return it to the dealer for full refund or replacement. For more information, please contact the customer service line for PMI products at 1-800-332-4738. Customer service representatives will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST. Source: FDA |
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