Introduction
In December 2022, Midwestern Pet Foods initiated a voluntary recall of multiple brands of dog and cat food due to potentially elevated levels of aflatoxin. This included the popular Sportmix brand, which left many pet owners wondering – is Sportmix dog food safe to feed now?
Aflatoxin is a dangerous mold byproduct that can cause illness and liver damage in pets at high levels. With the recent recall spanning nearly 110 brands, pet parents are understandably concerned about the safety and quality control around Sportmix products moving forward.
This article will cover the details of the recall, its root causes, whether Sportmix has adequately addressed the issue, and provide guidance for consumers on safely feeding their dogs Sportmix foods going forward.
Background on Sportmix
Sportmix is a brand of dog and cat food products made by Midwestern Pet Foods, a fourth generation family-owned company based in Indiana. Sportmix offers several product lines including their flagship Sportmix brand along with Earthborn Holistic, Pro Pac, and Sportstrail brands.
Midwestern Pet Foods and the Sportmix brand have generally had a good reputation among pet owners. They produce their recipes in company-owned manufacturing facilities in Indiana using quality ingredients. Sportmix aims to provide complete balanced nutrition along with great taste and digestibility as stated on their website.
Recent Sportmix Recall
In December 2020, Midwestern Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall of certain lots of Sportmix pet food products after the FDA was alerted about reports of at least 28 dogs that died after consuming the recalled Sportmix pet food (1). The FDA stated that their testing showed that the recalled pet food contained very high levels of aflatoxin, a toxix mold byproduct, which exceeded the acceptable limit (2). According to the FDA recall notice, the potentially aflatoxin-contaminated corn was included in their products from August 3rd, 2020 through November 13th, 2020 at their Oklahoma manufacturing plant (1).
The recall included all pet food products made with corn and manufactured in the Oklahoma plant during this timeline. This included certain lots of Sportmix Energizer, Sportmix Premium High Energy, Sportmix Energy Plus, Sportmix Stamina, and Sportmix Bite Size (1).
Sources:
(1) https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-alert-certain-lots-sportmix-pet-food-recalled-potentially-fatal-levels-aflatoxin
(2) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/us/sportmix-recall.html
Testing & Root Cause
The FDA quickly mobilized their investigation after the initial Sportmix recall in December 2020. Samples of the recalled Sportmix products were tested by the FDA and found to contain very high levels of aflatoxin (FDA, 2021).
Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the Aspergillus flavus mold, which can grow on grains like corn used in pet food if certain temperature and humidity conditions are present during production or storage (FDA, 2022). At high levels, aflatoxin can cause illness and death in pets. The Sportmix samples tested had aflatoxin levels up to 559 parts per billion, while the FDA limit is only 20 parts per billion for pet foods (FDA, 2021).
The FDA determined that the root cause was a corn contamination event likely at a Midwestern Pet Foods supplier facility. They are still investigating if improper corn storage conditions may have allowed the mold growth and toxin production (FDA, 2022).
Symptoms of Aflatoxin
Aflatoxin ingestion can cause severe liver damage in pets. According to the FDA, three types of aflatoxin – B1, B2, and G1 – are responsible for toxicity in dogs. The most problematic and potent toxin is aflatoxin B1.
Some common symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning in dogs include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Jaundice (yellowing of eyes, gums, and skin)
- Bruising and abnormal bleeding
As mentioned, liver damage is one of the most serious effects of aflatoxin ingestion. The toxins produced damage liver cells, impair liver function, and eventually lead to liver failure if not treated promptly. Aflatoxin poisoning can be fatal in pets if not addressed immediately.
According to WebMD, veterinarians test dogs for elevated liver enzymes to diagnose aflatoxin poisoning. There is no antidote for the toxins, so treatment focuses on liver protectants and supportive care.
Recalled Product Details
The FDA alert on January 26, 2021 listed the following recalled Sportmix products that contained potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin [1]:
- Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag
- Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag
- Sportmix Premium High Energy, 50 lb. bag
- Sportmix Premium High Energy, 44 lb. bag
- Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag
- Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag
The affected products were manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods and distributed nationwide. The recalled Sportmix lots have an expiration date of March 3, 2022 through August 10, 2022 and product numbers over a wide range including the prefixes 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11,12 or 13 [2].
Pet owners are advised to stop feeding the recalled products immediately and discard them. Anyone whose pets have consumed the recalled products and are exhibiting symptoms should contact their veterinarian.
Consumer Guidance
The FDA urges consumers to stop feeding their dogs any of the recalled Sportmix products immediately. Discard the products or return unopened packages to the retailer for a refund. Consumers should closely monitor their dogs that have eaten the recalled products. If dogs show symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to eyes, gums or skin due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea, pet owners should contact a veterinarian immediately.
It is especially important to monitor dogs that have consumed the affected Sportmix products and have existing health conditions or have compromised immune systems, as they may be more susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning. Pet owners with additional questions about the recall can call Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. at 800-474-4163 (ext 455) from 8 AM to 5 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday, or email [email protected]. For additional information, pet owners can also visit www.sportmix.com.
Sportmix Response
Midwestern Pet Foods, the manufacturer of Sportmix, issued a voluntary recall of certain lots of Sportmix pet food products after being alerted about high levels of aflatoxins by the FDA in late December 2020. The company stated that upon learning about the potentially elevated levels, they immediately retrieved retained samples of the dog food from their distribution network. Testing of the retained samples confirmed that some corn used in the affected products had higher-than-acceptable levels of aflatoxin.
In their recall notice, Midwestern Pet Foods said they were retrieving all potentially affected pet food products from retail distribution outlets as a precautionary measure. The company stated they were working closely with distributors and retailers to ensure no further distribution of the recalled products. Midwestern Pet Foods also expressed regret for the concerns and inconveniences the recall caused pet owners.
To address the root cause, Midwestern Pet Foods said they were testing both raw materials and finished products to ensure no other products were impacted. They stated their top priority was pet safety and that they would work with the FDA to resume production once the issue was fully resolved.
Long-Term Impacts
Pet food recalls like the recent Sportmix situation can have lasting impacts on consumer trust and a brand’s legal liability. According to the FDA (1), pet owners affected by recalls report lower trust in all pet food brands, not just the recalled brand. Brands linked to recalls suffer reputational damage and must work to rebuild consumer confidence over many years.
Legal liability also continues long after a recall. Pet owners sickened or whose pets died may pursue legal action and file lawsuits for years afterward. For example, Menu Foods faced over 100 lawsuits after its massive 2007 recall (2). These lawsuits seek damages for veterinary bills, pain and suffering, and other costs. Even if a brand is not found legally liable, the legal fees can be substantial.
In summary, pet food recalls can erode consumer trust in the entire pet food industry and lead to extended legal liability. Brands linked to recalls must carefully manage long-term impacts to rebuild their reputation and prevent further legal action.
Is Sportmix Safe Now?
The short answer is that Sportmix pet food currently on the market does not appear to pose a safety risk based on updated testing and quality control measures implemented by the manufacturer, Midwestern Pet Foods. However, the company is still working with the FDA to investigate the root causes of the aflatoxin contamination that led to the recall in late 2020 and early 2021 1.
After being alerted to cases of illness and death in dogs eating certain lots of Sportmix, Midwestern Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall of those products found to contain high levels of aflatoxin, a toxic mold byproduct. They halted production at the affected Oklahoma manufacturing plant to conduct extensive testing and sanitation 2.
Midwestern states that no aflatoxin has been detected in products made since resuming production in late January 2021. They say that new sampling protocols and testing for aflatoxin contamination have been implemented to ensure product safety going forward.
While it appears current Sportmix products are safe for pet consumption based on improved quality control, pet owners should remain vigilant and immediately contact their veterinarian if their pet shows signs of aflatoxin poisoning after eating the food.