More dog food recalled because of phenobarbital contamination

At least five dogs were sickened and one actually died after eating Evanger’s “Hunk of Beef” canned dog food, it was reported on February 4. A barbiturate, phenobarbital was confirmed in one lot of the company’s canned dog food. Phenobarbital is a sedative used to euthanize animals.

On February 4, Evanger’s recalled five lots of the company’s popular “Hunks of Beef” manufactured the week of June 6-13, 2016. The product had been distributed to retailers in 15 states: Washington, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

FDA

Phenobarbital can cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and even death when ingested, The drug was found in one dog’s stomach and in one lot of Evanger’s canned “Hunks of Beef.” Evanger’s has since stopped using the meat company that supplied the beef connected to their product.

Against the Grain dog food recall
The Against the Grain dog food recall involves one lot of one flavor, “Pulled Beef with Gravy.” The recalled 12-ounce Against the Grain canned dog food has an expiration date of December 2019 and the lot number 2415E01ATB12, and a UPC number ending with 80001.

FDA

“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,” according to the Against the Grain recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration website.

According to Food Safety News, the two companies may share the same manufacturing facility and ingredients. Evanger’s is owned by Holly and Joel Sher, whose daughter Chelsea Sher is the vice president for exports at Evanger’s. Chelsea Sher is listed as the owner of the Against the Grain trademark.

The FDA notice stated that all the meat products from the supplier were USDA approved. This beef supplier provides the FDA with beef chunks from cows that are slaughtered in a USDA facility. We continue to investigate how this substance entered our raw material supply.