The dog food company stated that they have no idea how the drug ended up in their product, especially since it sources its raw materials from USDA-inspected facilities! However, we are pleased to hear they are being proactive with their concern.
“Despite having a relationship for forty years with the supplier of this specific beef, who also services many other pet food companies, we have terminated our relationship with them and will no longer purchase their beef for use in our Hunk of Beef product,” the company said in a statement. “As Hunk of Beef is a very unique product, requiring very specific cuts of meat, this supplier’s meat was used in no other products.”
Back in 2002, the FDA released a report that stated “low levels of exposure to sodium pentobarbital (pentobarbital) that dogs might receive through food is unlikely to cause them any adverse health effects.” Since the drug is most often used on shelter animals there were fears that euthanized dogs and cats had gotten into the pet food supply chain, but according to the 2002 FDA report limited testing done on pet food turned up no dog or cat DNA in the products tested. A 2014 study at Southern California’s Chapman University that analyzed 52 different pet foods found that 16 of them contained meat from a species not listed and one contained DNA from a species that could not be identified.
The lot numbers recalled start with 1816E03HB, 1816E04HB, 1816E06HB, 1816E07HB, 1816E13HB. The expiration date reads June 2020. Also, the cans were all made the week of June 6 to 13, 2016. Consumers with questions may contact the company at the following phone #: 1-847-537-0102 between 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.
As a special note Evanger’s, in addition to paying for all the veterinary bills for the ill dogs, plans to make a donation to a local shelter in honor of the deceased Pug. For more on this recalled food, check out Modern Farmer.
