What FDA Didn’t Tell Pet Owners About the Midwestern Pet Food Recall – Truth about Pet Food

The FDA told pet owners the recalled dog food contained aflatoxin, lab results show the dog foods were a toxic soup of multiple mycotoxins. Why did FDA neglect to tell pet owners the truth?

On December 30, 2020 the FDA issued an alert; “Certain Lots of Sportmix Pet Food Recalled for Potentially Fatal Levels of Aflatoxin.” The FDA alert DID NOT mention any other mycotoxin in the pet foods – only aflatoxin.

Freedom of Information Act acquired documents tell a very different story. Lab results provided by Missouri Department of Agriculture confirms the Midwestern Pet Food contained five different mycotoxins at concerning levels.

This dog food contained Aflatoxin B1, Aflatoxin B2, Fumonisin B1, Fumonisin B2, and Ochratoxin A.

Both types of Aflatoxins were above the FDA allowed limit of 20 parts per billion (ppb).

The Fumonisin B1 and B2 were below FDA’s allowed limit of 5,000 ppb – but science has shown that the combination of fumonisin and aflatoxin magnifies the cancer risk and liver damage caused to animals.

And FDA has not established a maximum for Ochratoxin A in pet food – however the lab results stated “Ochratoxin A is recognized as being nephrotoxic, immunosuppressive, and a possible carcinogen. The European Union has set a guidance value in mg/kg of Ochratoxin A in compound feed for cats and dogs at 0,01 or 10 μg/kg (ppb).” In other words, European pet foods have restrictions of 10 ppb ochratoxin – this pet food tested double that at 24 ppb and 21 ppb with no mention from FDA.

Why didn’t FDA explain to pet owners that the Midwestern Pet Foods tested positive for multiple mycotoxins that certainly increased the risk?

Is it possible that FDA only informed pet owners of one mycotoxin (aflatoxin) in Midwestern Pet Foods because they didn’t want pet owners to be informed that grains come with the risk of multiple mycotoxins?

Don’t pet owners deserve to know the complete details of testing of a recalled pet food?

Or did FDA neglect to tell pet owners Midwestern Pet Food contained concerning levels of multiple mycotoxins because the agency hasn’t bothered to establish limits for multiple mycotoxins? Pointing that out in this pet food might cause consumers to question FDA lack of regulatory action.

There is significant research FDA should consult regarding the increased health risks of multiple mycotoxins in a pet food/animal feed. The agency should certainly establish maximum limits when multiple mycotoxins are present.

With corn being the most commonly used pet food ingredient, and all of the following mycotoxins can be present in corn: Aflatoxin, Fumonisin, Citrinin, Cyclopiazonic acid, Penicillic acid, Deoxynivalenol (DON or vomitoxin), Ochratoxin A, Zearalenone, and Trichothecenes – to protect pets there is a clear need for the FDA to establish regulatory limits of multiple mycotoxins in pet food.

To view the lab results of Midwestern Pet Food, Click Here.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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