Dec 30, 2005

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer alert on the contaminated pet food after learning that 23 dogs died and another 18 dogs became ill. As of Jan. 6, more than 100 dogs have died from the illness caused by the contaminated pet food, according to Cornell News Service.

According to the FDA, the contaminated pet food was exported to 28 countries including countries in Europe, which have been notified of the safety issue.

Update: Diamond Pet Food Recalled Due to Aflatoxin

Diamond Pet Food on Dec. 20 issued a recall for the products manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina facility where a product has been found contaminated with aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin is a group of toxic metabolites of the fungus Aspergillus flavus, commonly found in or on corn, peanuts, nuts and other crops.

The company recommended distributors hold the sale of all Diamond Pet Food products formulated with corn that were produced in the Gaston facility.

Products removed from sale included:

• Diamond Low Fat Dog Food
• Diamond Hi-Energy Dog Food
• Diamond Maintenance Dog Food
• Diamond Performance Dog Food
• Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food
• Diamond Puppy Food
• Diamond Maintenance Cat Food
• Diamond Professional Cat Food
• Country Value Puppy
• Country Value Adult Dog
• Country Value High Energy Dog
• Country Value Adult Cat Food
• Professional Chicken & Rice Senior Dog Food
• Professional Reduced Fat Chicken & Rice Dog Food
• Professional Adult Dog Food
• Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food
• Professional Puppy Food
• Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food
• Professional Adult Cat Food

Diamond Pet Food said products manufactured at facilities in Meta, Missouri and Lathrop, California were not affected.

The Gaston facility date codes are unique from other Diamond facility codes in that either the eleventh or twelfth character in the date code will be a capital "G" (in reference to Gaston). The range of date codes being reviewed are "Best By 01-March-07" through Best By " 11-June-07". Diamond's quantitative analysis records substantiate that Diamond's corn shipments were definitively clear of aflatoxin after December 10. As such, "Best By 11-June-07" date codes or later are not affected, according to the company.

Symptoms of potential illness in dogs may be difficult to discern, but may include:

• Sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat
• Jaundice (Yellow whites of the eyes, yellow gums, yellow in the belly or areas where hair is very thin)
• Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea
• Discolored urine
• Fever

When a pet shows any of such symptoms, it should be taken to a veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment, the company suggested.

Facts about Aflatoxin:

• Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxins that are metabolic byproducts of fungi, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus parasiticus, which grow on many food crops under favorable conditions.
• Aflatoxin is an mycotoxin literally means poison from a fungi and are named on the basis of the fungus that produces them, thus “Aflatoxin” uses the “A” for Aspergillus and “fla” for the species “flavus” along with the word toxin.
• Adverse impact on animal and human health with acute toxicological effects such as liver damage and cancer can occur.
• Aflatoxins can invade the food supply at anytime during production, processing, transport or storage.
• Conditions that contribute to fungal growth and the production of aflatoxins are: a hot and humid climate, kernel moisture, favorable substrate characteristics, and factors that decrease the host plant’s immunity (insect damage, poor fertilization, and drought).
• Food and food crops most prone to contamination are corn and corn products, cottonseed, peanuts and peanut products, tree nuts (pistachio nuts, pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts) and milk.

Contaminated Diamond Pet Food Products and 'Best By' Dates Narrowed
Wednesday January 11, 9:48 am ET
META, Mo., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on analytical sampling of finished product lots retained by Diamond Pet Foods, the company has been able to narrow products and "Best By" dates affected by aflatoxin.

Testing of more than 2,700 finished product samples conducted by independent laboratories confirms that only Diamond Maintenance Dog and Diamond Premium Adult Dog with "Best By" dates of April 3, April 4, April 5, and April 11, 2007, are potentially toxic. These products also will have a capital "G" (in reference to the company's Gaston, S.C., facility) in the 11th or 12th position of the date code (18 lb. to 55 lb. bags). The capital "G" will be in the 9th position on smaller 4 lb. to 8 lb. bags.

Test results for all other products have not been toxic.

As a proactive precautionary measure, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul and Premium Edge brands have been tested and are negative for aflatoxin. It is important for consumers to note that Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul and Premium Edge brands are not included in the product recall.

LINKS:

Tainted pet food still being used, area veterinarians fear

As dogs die, tainted pet food worries veterinarians

FDA issues alert on contaminated dog food

FDA links deaths of 23 dogs to contaminant in pet food

DiamondPetRecall.net

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Phone Numbers:

Customer Information Center: 1-866-214-6945 (toll-free)

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