Second Pentobarbital Recall /Dog Food

Test Results Show Pentobarbital in Evangers Dog Food
By Susan Thixton




On New Years Eve 2016, 3 pug dogs became ill – another died – believed to be linked to Evangers Pet Food. Lab results provided by the pet owner show the pet food contained pentobarbital – a drug used to euthanize animals.

First – this information has not been confirmed or denied by FDA. Questions have been sent to FDA (to confirm or deny the lab results) – the agency has not responded. That said, I have no reason to not trust the pet owner; I personally fully believe the pet owner and the test results.

Timeline…

On January 3, 2017 NBC4i.com reports that a pet owner in Washington State fed her four dogs Evangers Hunk of Beef canned dog food. Within 15 minutes all four dogs were staggering, and by the time she arrived at a veterinary emergency clinic the four were “limp”. After treatment in a veterinary intensive care unit, 3 dogs recovered (though one suffers seizures now) and one of the dogs – Talula – died. Talula’s body was sent to Oregon State University for necropsy.

The same day the news story broke (1/3/17), TruthaboutPetFood.com was provided with information that Evangers Pet Food was removing from store shelves it’s Hunk of Beef canned dog food – Manufactured June 2016, Lot Number is 1816E06HB13. Evangers Pet Food provided TruthaboutPetFood.com this statement (in part): “We have let our distributor know to quarantine any product with that lot code.”

January 4, 2017: Evangers Pet Food reports they paid for all medical bills relating to this incident. Per the Evangers website: “Tuesday the 3rd, at 10:03 PM local time, Ms. Mael reached out to Evanger’s via email to notify us that 5 dogs became ill. We are grateful to have communication, and to be fully transparent, have requested that all emails between Evanger’s and Ms. Mael have the FDA in copy so that we can openly continue our investigation with scientific evidence of what truly happened in this tragic situation.”

January 16, 2017: Evangers Pet Food reports “results from the first round of tests have come back and ALL 4 tests came back negative.” The pet food was tested free of Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae, Clostridium spp, and Staphylococcus aureus. (Click Here and Here for these lab results.)

January 21, 2017: Evangers Pet Food provided an additional test result for Botulinum Toxin A/B – negative. (Click Here for this result.)

January 23, 2017: Evangers Pet Food provided additional testing results, Commercial Sterility (free of micro-organisms). The pet food tested as “Sterile”. (Click Here for this result.)

January 25, 2017: a friend of the pet owner family posted this comment on TruthaboutPetFood.com “Nikki (pug dog family) would like everyone to know this. The FDA has asked that anyone who has fed their dog this product and their dog had adverse reactions, to please file a report with them ASAP. We don’t want anymore pets getting sick so please do this for the sake of other dogs and dog families. This is an URGENT matter and the FDA is very concerned. Please share. Thank you.”

January 29, 2017: the pet owner family posted this image to Instagram:



The above results from Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH) state the dog’s stomach contents tested positive for pentobarbital (euthanizing drug), and the “feed” (pet food) tested positive for pentobarbital. The lab report stated “large quantity” of pentobarbital was found – and “If this sample came directly from a can, this is an urgent matter and needs to be reported to the FDA…”

TruthaboutPetFood.com has sent FDA emails (2 requests) asking when the agency will provide consumers with information on this investigation. The agency has not responded. This is typical of an FDA investigation; pet food investigations take time unfortunately – for lab results to come in, going over manufacturing and ingredient data (from the manufacturer). All we can do is wait until the FDA updates us.

This is a very concerning issue. The pet owner and friends of the family are in contact with Mollie Morrissette and myself. As we learn more – both Mollie’s website and this website will keep everyone posted.

For consumers who wish to be cautious: Evangers Pet Food manufactures numerous brands of pet food for other pet food companies (co-packs). Thanks to Lorin Grow of Furry Face Pet Food Store in Redlands, CA – Evangers Pet Food has a very unique lot code stamp on their canned foods. “Only Evanger’s stamps their cans on the rollers meaning their stamps are in a semi-circle instead of just straight on the can.“ If the lot code stamp on your can of pet food is in a semi-circle (as opposed to a straight line) – you can safely assume the pet food was made at Evangers.

http://truthaboutpetfood.com/test-results-show-pentobarbital-in-evangers-dog-food/

 

February 14, 2017




Against The Grain Pet Food Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Pulled Beef Due to Potential Adulteration with Pentobarbital

Markham, IL – (February 14, 2017) Out of an abundance of caution, Against the Grain Pet Food is voluntarily recalling one lot of Against the Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner for Dogs that was manufactured and distributed in 2015 (bold added).

The 12 oz. Against the Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner for Dogs that is being voluntarily recalled, due to the potential presence of pentobarbital, has an expiration date of December 2019, a lot number of 2415E01ATB12, and the second half of the UPC code is 80001 (which can be found on the back of the product label).

Oral exposure to pentobarbital can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner), in ability to stand and coma.

Note: To-date, no complaints have been reported to Against the Grain for this single lot number nor any of Against the Grain’s pet foods, since the company was founded.

In 2015, this one lot of product was distributed to independent pet retail stores in Washington and Maryland, though it has been verified that this lot is no longer on any store shelves. This voluntary recall only affects one specific lot of food.

Consumers may return any can with the aforementioned lot number, to their place of purchase and receive a full case of Against the Grain food for the inconvenience. For any questions, customers may contact the company at 1-800-288-6796 between 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Central Time, Monday – Friday.

Note: Against the Grain Pet Food is owned by/manufactured by Evangers Pet Food.

Source: http://www.againstthegrainpetfood.com/about-us/voluntary-recall/

FDA recall notice: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm541692.htm

 

Sadly, it's taken over a year for this news to hit mass media. Many folks who lose their pets unexpectedly do not consider pet food as the source nor do they order an autopsy to find the cause of death. Sadly, this includes euthanized shelter animals recycled into the pet food market which, by law, is allowed by the FDA.