F.D.A. says Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. is responsible for hurting or killing hundreds of animals.
If you love your dog or cat, you’ll want to throw away any pet foods you have that are manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. and sold online and through local retailers.
On August 17, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. that says “manufacturing plants revealed evidence of violations, which were shared across multiple plants and were associated with the illness or death of hundreds of pets who had eaten the company’s dry dog food.”
Having been part of two previous recalls of pet foods in the last year, Midwestern Pet Foods failed an F.D.A. inspection of its Chickasha, Oklahoma plant that was triggered by reports of illness or death in dogs that had eaten SPORTMiX brand dry dog food manufactured by Midwestern. Samples of SPORTMiX were later found to contain levels of aflatoxin as high as 558 parts per billion (p.p.b.). The FDA considers pet food to be adulterated if it contains more than 20 p.p.b. of aflatoxin.
Aflatoxin is a toxic substance made by mold that can contaminate grain crops. Ingestion of aflatoxin can cause symptoms that range from digestive upset to fatal liver failure in both humans and animals.
Additionally, the F.D.A. found that Midwestern’s food safety program appears inadequate to significantly minimize or prevent Salmonella in its pet food.
As of August 9, 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods products have been linked to illness in more than 220 companion animals and death in more than 130 animals. The company manufactures various brands of both wet and dry food for dogs and cats.
After inspecting Midwestern’s Chickasha plant, the F.D.A. also inspected the company’s three other manufacturing plants. These inspections revealed evidence of significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals regulation.
According to the company’s website, Midwestern Pet Foods brands have been sold locally through retailers such as Tractor Supply in Waxahachie and Ennis, Boyce Feed and Grain in Waxahachie, Zen Dog Outfitters in Red Oak, The Pet Village in Duncanville, and Smith General Store in Corsicana, among other stores and online.
Other brands manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. are:
- Earthborn Holistics
- Venture
- Pro Pac Ultimates
- Wholesomes
- Caninex
- Unrefined
The FDA has requested a written response from the company within 15 working days stating the specific steps they have taken to correct any violations. Failure to adequately address any violations promptly may result in legal action, including product seizure and an injunction.
If your dog or cat has eaten pet foods manufactured by Midwestern, seek a veterinarian’s care for advice.