Is Victor dog food contaminated

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Dry Dog Food

Mid America Pet Food

• All dog and cat food
• Best by dates before 10/31/2024
• Brands include: Victor Super Premium Dog Foods, Wayne Feeds Dog Food, Eagle Mountain Pet food, Members Mark
• Multiple bag sizes including: 5 pound, 15 pound, 16 pound, 30 pound, 40 pound, and 50 pound
• See recall for more details

Victor brand Hi-Pro Plus dog food

• 5-pound bags with lot code 1000016385
• Best-by date 4/30/2024
• See recall for more details

Victor brand Super Premium Dog Food, Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula

• 5 pound, 15 pound, and 40 pound bags
• Best-by date 6/12/2024
• Lot numbers 1000016890, 1000016891, 1000016892
• See recall for more details

FDA Issues Warning to Dog Food Manufacturer After 130+ Deaths and 220+ Illnesses

UPDATE: On August 17, 2021, the FDA issued a corporate-wide warning letter to Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc., the company that produces Sportmix pet food and other pet food brands. Per the FDA alert, as of August 9, the agency is aware aware of more than 130 pet deaths and more than 220 pet illnesses that may be linked to eating brands of pet food manufactured by Midwestern. Not all of these cases have been confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning through laboratory testing or veterinary record review. This count is approximate and may not reflect the total number of pets affected. The FDAs letter requested a written response from Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. within 15 working days outlining what the company will do to correct any violations described in the agencys letter. Read the letter in full on FDA.gov.

Certain lots of Sportmix pet food products are now on recall after the FDA was alerted about high levels of aflatoxins and multiple dog deaths.

On January 11, 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc.expandedthis recall further. The recall now includes all pet foods containing corn and manufactured in the companys Oklahoma plant that have an expiration date on or before July 9, 2022. At this time, the FDA is aware of more than 70 dogs who have died and more than 80 who were sick after eating Sportmix pet food. The FDA was able to take immediate action thanks toresearch by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and theUniversity of Mizzou.

Dog owners who have been feeding their dog one of the affected Sportmix pet foods shouldtop feeding the food immediately and contact their veterinarian. Heres how to know if your dogs food was impacted and what steps to take.

What Are Aflatoxins?

Aflatoxins are toxins produced by the moldAspergillus flavus. At high levels, aflatoxins can cause death and serious illness in pets. Aflatoxin can be produced by mold in grains, especially drought-stressed corn.Even if there is no visible mold, these toxins can be present in dog food.

What Are the Symptoms of Aflatoxin Poisoning?

Unlike humans, pets generally eat the same diet continuously. Because of this, the toxins (if present) can accumulate in your pets system. Heres what to look for:

• Vomiting
• Sluggishness
• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice (yellow tint to eyes, gums, or skin)
• Diarrhea

In some cases, pets with aflatoxin poisoning will suffer long-term liver issues or death. If your dog has been eating the recalled product, contact your veterinarian immediately, and monitor your dog for symptoms.Even pets without symptoms may have suffered liver damage

Are Humans at Risk of Aflatoxin Poisoning?

There is no evidence that people who have handled Sportmix dog food are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning. As a general rule, always wash your hands after handling pet food.

What Sportmix Pet Food is Recalled?

The list of recalled dry pet food products announced by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. on December 30, 2020:

• Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag
  • Exp 03/02/22/05/L2
  • Exp 03/02/22/05/L3
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L2
• 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
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L2
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Lots of the following pet food products have been recalled if the date/lot code includes an expiration date on or before 07/09/22 and includes 05 in the date/lot code, which identifies products made in the Oklahoma plant:

• Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk, 40 lb. bag
• Pro Pac Performance Puppy, 40 lb. bag
• Splash Fat Cat 32%, 50 lb. bag
• Nunn Better Maintenance, 50 lb. bag
• Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag
• Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag
• Sportmix Maintenance, 44 lb. bag
• Sportmix Maintenance, 50 lb. bag
• Sportmix High Protein, 50 lb. bag
• Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag
• Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag
• Sportmix Stamina, 44 lb. bag
• Sportmix Stamina, 50 lb. bag
• Sportmix Bite Size, 40 lb. bag
• Sportmix Bite Size, 44 lb. bag
• Sportmix High Energy, 44 lb. bag
• Sportmix High Energy, 50 lb. bag
• Sportmix Premium Puppy, 16.5 lb. bag
• Sportmix Premium Puppy, 33 lb. bag

Lot code information may be found on the back of bag and will appear in a three-line code, with the top line in format EXP 03/03/22/05/L#/B###/HH:MM

Additional Midwestern Pet Foods brands were voluntarily recalled in March 2021 for the potential for Salmonella contamination. You can find the full list of those foods on FDA.gov.

What To Do if Your Dogs Food Is Recalled?

If your dogs food has been recalled, stop feeding the food immediately. The food should be returned to the store where it was purchased, and you may be able to obtain a refund. Or, you may properly dispose of the food in a manner that prevents other animals from gaining access to it.

If your dog has already been eating the recalled food, consult with your veterinarian to determine what actions, if any, you should take. Even if your dog is not showing any signs of illness, its best to consult with your veterinarian as quickly as possible. Depending upon the reason the food was recalled, your veterinarian will be able to determine what, if any, action should be taken.

If you believe your dog has become ill or has died because of eating a recalled food product, you should file a complaint with the FDA. You can file areport onlineor contact theFDA consumer complaint coordinatorin your state.

If you can no longer feed your dog his usual diet due to a recall, try to find a similar food to replace it or ask your veterinarian for suggestions. Keep in mind that sudden changes in diet can lead to dietary distress for dogs.

Tips to Keep Your Dogs Food Safe

• Clean your dogs food and water bowls daily with dish soap and hot water
• Use stainless steel bowls
• Keep opened canned food covered and refrigerated
• Keep dry food in an enclosed container to prevent exposure to rodents and pests
• Wash your hands with soap and water before, and especially after, handling pet food
• Feed your pet a healthy diet, as recommended by your veterinarian

Victor Classic Dog Food Review (Dry)

The Victor Classic product line includes the 5 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is beef meal. Beef meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh beef.

The second ingredient is sorghum. Sorghum (milo) is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.

Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.

The third ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The fourth ingredient is pork meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate that can also be high in ash about 25-30%.

However, the ash content of the final product is typically adjusted in the recipe to allow its mineral profile to meet AAFCO guidelines.

The next two ingredients listed are chicken meal and menhaden fish meal, yet more high protein meat concentrates.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.¹

The seventh ingredient is blood meal. Blood meal is a by-product of slaughter and used to make high-protein (very low ash) animal feeds.

Yet even though some consider it a controversial ingredient, blood meal can still be considered a quality source of animal protein.

The eighth ingredient is millet, a gluten-free grain harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber as well as other essential minerals.

The ninth ingredient is alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Victor product.

With 7 notable exceptions

First, tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, theres probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

Next, dried seaweed meal is a product made from a family of brown algae known as Fucaceae (Rockweed). Although it does contain a number of healthy nutrients, seaweed meal is primarily used as a source of inexpensive carbohydrates (about 60% dry matter).

This item is only rarely used to make pet food and is more typically found in feeds for cattle, horses, hogs, hens and sheep.

In addition, we note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

Next, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Additionally, brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although its a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

Whats more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

We also find some vegetable oil, a generic oil of unknown origin. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in any oil is nutritionally critical and can vary significantly (depending on the source).

Without knowing more, its impossible to judge the quality of an item so vaguely described. However, compared to a named animal fat, a generic vegetable oil cannot be considered a quality ingredient.

And lastly, this product includes selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Victor Classic Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 22% and estimated carbohydrates of about 37%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%.

Which means this Victor product line contains

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the alfalfa meal and brewers yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.