FDA Releases Warning Letter Addressed To Pet Food Company Linked To Animal Deaths, Illnesses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter addressed to the pet food company whose products have been associated with pet deaths and illnesses.

In a statement released Tuesday, the FDA announced that it sent Midwestern Pet Foods a "corporate-wide" warning letter after inspections of its manufacturing plants identified "apparent violations" of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

"These conditions likely contributed to the illness or death of hundreds of dogs," the FDA said.

As of Aug. 9, the agency was aware of over 130 pet deaths and more than 220 illnesses that "may be linked" to pet food manufactured by the company, although it noted that not all of the cases have been confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning.

In the letter, the agency explained that the initial investigations at the company's plant in Oklahoma were a follow-up to "numerous" customer complaints of suspected mycotoxin poisoning that had led to pet illnesses or death. It was also a response to the company's Class I recall in December that was further expanded in January. At the time of the recall expansion, the agency had received 70 reports of death and 80 reports of illnesses.

"Samples of SPORTMiX were later found to contain levels of aflatoxin as high as 558 parts per billion (ppb)," the FDA noted. "The FDA considers pet food to be adulterated if it contains more than 20 ppb of aflatoxin."

The agency further inspected the company's three other plants, revealing "significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals regulation."

During the inspection of the facility in Illinois, the company also issued a recall of 104 dog and cat products, this time because its monitoring revealed Salmonella in the products manufactured on a piece of common equipment.

The FDA acknowledged that the company took action in response to the aflatoxin and Salmonella concerns, but noted that it has not provided documentation of its implementation of preventive control measures, thereby making it difficult for the agency to assess its actions.

"The FDA is dedicated to taking all steps possible to help pet owners have confidence that the food they buy for their animal companions is safe and wholesome," director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, Steven M. Solomon, M.P.H., D.V.M., said as per the FDA statement. "We'll continue to hold companies accountable and protect animal health as a core element of the FDA's public health mission."

The agency is expecting a response from the company within 15 days.

In a statement provided by SILive, Midwestern stated its "full cooperation" with the FDA.

"... As a fourth-generation family-owned company, Midwestern Pet Foods has been committed to ensuring that our products are safe and nutritious for nearly 100 years," a Consumer Affairs spokesman identified simply as Shawn, said, as per SILive. "We continue a thorough review of our facilities and practices in full cooperation with FDA as we continue to serve our customers and pet parents who put their trust in us."