By the author of Be Ready for Anything and the online course Bloom Where You’re Planted
***SEE THE UPDATE FOR MORE RECALLS***
Do you feed your dogs wet food? If so, you need to check your labels because 4 major brands have been recalled by the manufacturer, J.M. Smucker Company.
According to a message sent to retailers, the foods could contain a drug that is used in euthanasia.
The J.M. Smucker Company is initiating a voluntary withdrawal of a limited quantity of Gravy Train®, Kibbles ‘N Bits®, and Skippy®Wet Dog Food products after learning specific SKUs did not meet our specifications because a minor ingredient may contain low levels of pentobarbital. This is not a threat to pet safety. Although the extremely low levels do not present a health or safety risk, their presence in our products is not acceptable to us. (source)
In a different article, the brand Ol’ Roy was also included in the list of recalled brands.
Pentobarbital in pet foods can cause death.
Despite reassurances that the tainted food doesn’t present a risk, a previous pentobarbital taint caused the death of one family’s beloved pet. Nikki Mael shared her tragic story.
Within minutes of sharing a can of Evanger’s pet food among her five dogs, she was racing the lifeless animals to the emergency vet.
“They were falling over. They were running into the walls. They were convulsing,” said Mael.
The vets told her they weren’t sure what was going on, but that things didn’t look good. Hours later, devastating news.
“They said Talula wasn’t going to make it,” said Mael, choking back tears.
Desperate for answers, the family sent the remainder of the food to a specialized lab and drove Talulah’s lifeless body to a veterinary pathologist for a postmortem examination.
“Poisoning from the dog food. That’s what killed her,” said Mael.
But it wasn’t just any poison.
It was pentobarbital: A lethal drug, most commonly used to euthanize dogs, cats and some horses. The deadly toxin is never permitted to kill animals that are part of the food supply and would violate federal law if it was. (source)
Hearing a story like that, I certainly would never risk giving my pets one of the recalled products.
Return these products if you have them on hand
Here’s the list:
Gravy Train canned/wet dog food• Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with T-Bone Flavor Chunks (UPC: 7910052541)• Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Strips (UPC: 7910052542)• Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Lamb and Rice Chunks (UPC: 7910052543)• Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Chunks (UPC: 7910034417)• Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Chicken Chunks (UPC: 7910034418)• Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy Stew (UPC: 7910051933)• Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chicken, Beef & Liver Medley (UPC: 7910051934)• Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks (UPC: 7910034417)• Gravy Train 22 oz. with Chicken Chunks (UPC: 7910051645)• Gravy Train 22 oz. with Beef Chunks (UPC: 7910051647)Kibbles ‘N Bits canned/wet dog food
• Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Burger Bacon Cheese and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Variety 12-Pack (UPC: 7910010377; 7910010378)
• Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Meatball Pasta and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Variety Pack (UPC: 7910010382; 7910048367; 7910010378)
• Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Burger Bacon Cheese and Beef Vegetable Variety Pack (UPC: 7910010380; 7910010377; 7910010375)
• Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Wet Variety Pack (UPC: 791001037; 7910048367)
• Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Beef & Vegetable in Gravy (UPC: 7910010375)
• Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetable in Gravy (UPC: 7910010378)
• Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Chef’s Choice Homestyle Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy (UPC: 7910010380)
Skippy canned/wet dog food
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Select Cuts in Gravy with Beef & Bone Marrow (UPC: 7910071860)
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Select Cuts with Burgers & Cheese Bits (UPC: 7910050243)
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy with Smoky Turkey & Bacon (UPC: 7910050246)
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy with Beef & Chicken (UPC: 7910050247)
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy 3 in 1 Chicken, Beef & Liver (UPC: 7910050248)
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy Chunky Stew (UPC: 7910050249)
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Strips in Gravy with Chicken (UPC: 7910050244)
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy with Beef (UPC: 7910050250)
• Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Strips in Gravy with Beef (UPC: 7910050245)
Ol’ Roy canned/wet dog food• Ol’ Roy 13.2 oz. Turkey Bacon Strips (UPC: 8113117570)
How did the poison get in the dog food?
One possibility as to how pentobarbital is getting into food? Experts tell us animals that have been euthanized are picked up by renderers who process the carcasses – which may be blended into pet food.
In a 2004 report to Congress, sources for rendered materials were identified as, among other things, “dead animals from farms, animal shelters and other facilities.”
Under federal law, these are adulterated ingredients.
Adulterated ingredients, which are defined partly as: “an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter,” are illegal in all food for humans and animals.
Yet in its own compliance policy, the FDA acknowledges it is violating the law and states: “pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) …will be considered fit for animal consumption.”
“The FDA tells industry ‘Yeah, it’s a violation of law, but go ahead, we’re not going to do anything,’” said Thixton.
In a written request, we asked the FDA to explain its policy that is allowing adulterated ingredients into pet food.
They did not provide an answer. (source)
If you aren’t already making your own dog food, this may convince you that it’s time to make that change.
UPDATE: Another recall has been issued for salmonella
Some raw products have also been recalled after several animals have become sick and died from salmonella. These products are:
- Smokehouse Four-ounce bags Beefy Munchies
- Raws for Paws Ground Turkey Pet Food
- Redbarn seven-inch Bully Stick three pack
- Arrow Reliance ZooLogics Duck with Vegetable Meals for Dogs and ZooLogics Chicken with Vegetable Meals for Dogs
This illness not only makes pets ill, but can be passed on to humans.
My heart was skipping a beat until I read that my dog has never eaten any of these foods. She eat dry food only and it’s Purina. Has been for quite awhile. She’s 9 but she gets around and acts like she 5. Playful, and full of love and energy. I used to give her nibbles and bits dry food but stopped that over a year ago.
THANKS for posting this. I hope people who are using any of them will notice this and stop.
SAVE OUR BELOVED PETS. They make us live longer with their unconditional love and devotion to us.
Keep in mind that most pet foods are made using the bodies of euthanized shelter animals, leftover out of date meat and roadkill. It’s just a matter of time before your dog food is recalled.
Actually thats not true, not only is that illegal(as mentioned in this and other articles) You cant put rotten food, roadkill or notably euthanised animals into pet food, which us WHY this whole recall has happened. Im unsure why you would flippantly toss that out there with no valuable or credible info during a time when people are scarex to fees their pets & need reliable info? You need to do research including the FDA website, Honest Kitchen article about the recall & other credible reliable sites. Opinion is never fact.Only facts bacled up are facts
This is why I spend the extra dollars to buy only top quality, made in America from 100% American sourced ingredients. My dogs are my loved family members and they deserve nothing less.
I buy Orijen, and it smells good enough to eat!
Actually if you do some reading into this latest tainted food problem, its easy to see spending extra money isnt going to necessarily protect your pet. Evangers , Natures Recipe, Natural Balance & some of the other brands recalled are organic “top quality” limited ingredient products. Its about where the company is getting their ingredients at.I know Orajen is a well known brand, but again it doesnt mean it cant happen to their food.Evangers had strict testing & guidelines, visited their supplier many times, have limited ingredients & in fact their can food is not only pretty expensive because they use high quality limited ingredients but they have several Ive purchased in the past which are strictly meat– just cooked chicken or beef & thats the only ingredient.
American sourced ingredients means nothing either, again if you read the articles you willl see being sourcedfrom the USA doesnt remove the risk or prevent this from happening.
If you want to feed a safe dog food, commercially produced, than please feed Orijen. They are a Canadian company that has NEVER had a recall! They contract with farms and fisheries for exclusive use of their human quality foods. Their dry kibble is made in Kentucky or Canada. They never make food for any other company and have an impeccable reputation. https://www.orijen.ca is the website. You can also check here for pet foods: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/brand/
Always-always, read the label on a pet’s food before buying. You get what you pay for is never truer. Otherwise, make your own food.
It doesnt matter where it comes from or ever had a recall, the point is from the FDA site itself & other reputable articles its not about where, who, how expensive the product is, the ingredients are, its about where these companies get their supply from.In Evangers case they are saying desite strict guidelines, testing, visits to check on process & supplier this still happened.Its not a USA thing, & just because its from Canada doesnt mean the food cant get tainted.I advise doing some reading as they actually did have at least 1 recall–I have seen a few articles about an Australian recall of their cat food. Its too easy to think it wont happen when it seems lime its been easy for it to have happened.
If I have to take one of my dogs in to be euthanized the last thing I want to think about is that it’s going to ground up and turned into dog food. Is there nothing people won’t do for money?!?!?!
I really don’t feed my dogs soft food. I feed my babies Merrick dog food which is Organic and made local.
Please let me know if prescriptive science diet r/d or w/d had a recall
Not at this time, Debbie. Only the brands listed.
You can check the FDA website, there are several articles which include the info but also the FDA site continually updates recalls.
Thank you so much for this . I am at a loss for words for the heartbreak some people have gone through. Our government should be held accountable. It’s a kick in the butt for me to make my own food for my beloved canines.
What about cats? Are they at risk, too?
Thank you again for your reporting this .
Rebecca, as far as I know, there are no cat foods involved in this recall. But, there have been in the past.
There have been cat foods & treats added, they just put out a revised list today that expanded the list.It included
Big Heart Brands who make Meow Mix, Milk Bone, Kibbles’n Bits, 9 Lives, Natural Balance, Pup-Peroni, Gravy Train, Nature’s Recipe, Canine Carry Outs, Milo’s Kitchen, Alley Cat, Jerky Treats, Meaty Bone, Pounce and Snausages. There are several great articles that give detailed info and the FDA had a list which I saw dog & cat foods/treats on it.
Lisa, could you provide a link to this? I’ve found articles that say the company makes those other pet foods but not that they have been recalled. I also checked the FDA recall site and was unable to find anything but the dog foods mentioned here.
Thanks!
Daisy
You might consider checking out http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com for an eye opening education in what the pet food industry is really about. Susan Thixton is on the front lines there and has some serious information on her site.
do you think the dogs are being euthanized, ground up and put into the dog food? Solent green for dogs? I have a beautiful silver lab, use Paul Neuman’s dog food for her. This came to me last night. There was a Rabbi Finklestein that said there was ground up goyim in the hamburger, but we would not believe it if told so. I really don’t trust too much anymore and I am glad I have the gift of discernment.
This is common practice for ALL pet food, not just the listed brands! ALL pet food brands use euthanized pets, even the “fancy” expensive, “organic” ones. Which is how the drug gets into the food where it can hurt your pet. So switching brands is not going to save your fur babies!
Instead, grab a bigger pot when you cook – rice, beans, veggies – and give them that. Vegan pets are are healthier which saves both pain and money. Life is calmer on the vegan side, for both human beings and animals, try it!!
I feed my lab by cooking for her. Back in 1997 they found melamine and other ingredients that harmed and killed dogs and cats. I read a book “foods pets die for” . It had the food tested. The results were horrible. They found sodium pentobartital, cancer tumors, roadkill, sawdust, collars, leashes, and other ingredients. I started buying better dog food and giving my dog home cooking. There are cookbooks for dogs. I just buy the best quality I can and buy in bulk. I make a big pot and give her some and freeze some. When I grew up we fed them what we ate and we hardly ever took them to a vet. Most are in it for the money. I believe everyone needs to do there own research and best of all cook for your pets so you know what is in your food. I also had a german shepard react to a vaccine at 4 months. She reacted that day was sick from that day on and we had to put her down before 2 years old because she had severe seizures. I believe this was a wake-up call to us so we don’t have to see our pets die and suffer
What is the date of this article – you never date it, so do not know if it recent or not.
The dates appear on the photo at the top, upper left-hand side. This article was posted on Feb. 15, 2018.
Although Smuckers and the FDA declares the “low level of pentobarbitol are low” and “This is not a threat to pet safety”. BUT they do NOT tell us that it is FAT SOLUBLE. Which means it is absorbed by your dog’s fat cells. The penobarbitol doesn’t leave the fat cells as easily as “water soluble” products. Since the fat cells do not excrete the penobarbitol, it simply accumulates in the fat cells to the point that, over time, the levels add up to a LETHAL DOSE.