Why is Victor dog food being recalled

VICTORNews

We all want the best for our dogs, and we know it can be difficult to select a formula for sporting dogs that will help them achieve peak performance and take care of their nutritional needs.To help find the best match, our Senior Vice President of Nutrition and Supply Chain, Michael Keith, is answering common nutrition questions we get from sporting dog owners in Gun Dog Magazines article, Top 5 Questions Gun Dog Owners Should be Asking for Choosing the Proper Dog Food, you can read the article below.

Gun Dog: What Should We Feed our Sporting Dogs for Optimal Performance?

Michael Keith (Senior Vice President of Nutrition and Supply Chain, VICTOR Super Premium Pet Food):

While it would be nice, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for the best formula to feed a hunting dog. Much like humans, each dog has a unique metabolism and energy need; however, we do know that active hunting and sporting dogs perform best when eating a high-fat, high-protein diet.

When selecting a kibble for your gun dog, remember that protein and fat percentages are important, but dont get caught up in the numbers. A good place to start is looking at brands that use high-quality ingredients and then search for a formula that will deliver, at a minimum, 28 percent protein and 20 percent fat, to meet the caloric requirements of your active sporting dog.

The key to feeding for performance is making sure your dog is getting the calories they need. Again, theres no universal answer, but a solid reference is (based on a 50-lb. dog): 1,450 calories for a non-active dog, 1,800 calories for a dog with moderate exercise, and 2,200+ calories to support a hard day of hunting.

Created specifically for the nutritional needs of hunting and working dogs, VICTORs Realtree MAX-5 PRO formula delivers on the desirable 30/20 protein to fat breakdown, but if your hunting dog needs more calories then look into our EDGE ENERGY formula, which is our most calorie-dense formula, at 28/22 protein to fat.

Use the eye test to make sure youre feeding your dog the right number of calories. Do they look physically healthy? If theyre starting to slim down or get too plump, that will signal that you need to change their caloric intake.

GD: How Often Should We Feed Our Dogs During Hunting Season?

MK:Research tells us that the answer for canine athletes is very similar to human athletes. It typically takes 10 to 12 hours for food to be completely digested, so if youre looking to go on a morning hunt, youll want to feed the night before to allow the nutrients to be absorbed appropriately.

Think about what it takes for you to perform at a high level. If you eat a very light dinner, then a large feast for breakfast right before jumping into a workout, you probably wont perform your best. The same goes for our dogs. To get their best performance we want to allow time for their bodies to accept the nutrients theyre getting from their food so it can be properly utilized.

GD: What Should We Look for in a Dog Food Brand Regarding Safety and Standards?

MK:The basics are important, you want to make sure the brand uses high-quality ingredients, is meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulations, and offers quality food that will help your dog perform.

But, its important to dig a bit deeper into brands and find out more, like where the kibble is made, where the ingredients are sourced from and what kind of safety measures go into manufacturing the product. Ask how often their ingredients are tested and what kind of safety history the brands products have.

We share much of this information right on our website, and our customer service team is available by phone to answer your questions. Within a few clicks on our website, youll see that VICTOR proudly produces every bag of kibble in our own Texas-based facility using a majority of ingredients that come from ranches, farms, and other trusted suppliers who are within a days drive of our plant. We also proudly share that we regularly test our ingredients and finished products to ensure our food is continually meeting our own high standards.

The answers to these questions will help you understand if the values and strengths of the brand youre looking into align with what youre looking for in the nutrition thats fueling your sporting dog.

GD: Does Age Matter When Choosing a Dog Food?

MK:Yes. Puppies have specific nutritional needs, and similarly, older dogs have unique needs of their own.

When selecting a formula for a puppy, youll need to look for a puppy specific formula (sometimes referenced as a growth diet) or choose an all-life stage blend. Then, as your puppy grows, their needs will change, so at about six to 12 months if they were on a puppy food, youll need to transition them to an all-life stage formula.

Adult and senior dogs also have specific needs, like joint support. For adult hunting dogs that are highly active, youll want to look for a food with added glucosamine and chondroitin to help support their joints. Early inclusion of these supplements in their diet can help keep their joints healthy and prevent long term damage from hard days in the field, season after season.

Remember, when you transition your dog to a new food, even when its from the same brand, its important to do it over a period of time. We suggest taking one week to 10 days to make the switch. Youll want to gradually increase the amount of the new formula each day. Not taking the proper time to transition can cause digestive issues, and these issues can sometimes be interpreted as a problem with the new formula, when really your dog is simply reacting to the change in diet being made too abruptly.

GD: What Are Signs That I Might Not Be Feeding the Right Dog Food?

MK:What we see on the outside of our dogs is a good indicator for whats happening on the inside. If youre noticing things like a dull and flaky coat, digestive issues, lethargy, and weight problems (underweight or overweight), thats a strong signal theyre missing something in their nutrition.

Weight issues can often be controlled by changing the number of calories your dog is consuming. Keep in mind that its not necessary to change formulas during hunting season. You can feed the same formula all year, youll just need to adjust the amount youre feeding so it meets your dogs increased caloric needs during the hunting season.

There are a lot of options on the market, and it can be overwhelming to find the perfect food for your dog. If youre looking to find a new food for your gun dog, our customer service team is available to offer personalized recommendations based on your specific dog, their activity level, and other individual needs.

A version of this article first appeared in Gun Dog Magazine, you can see it here.

Recalled: Mid America Pet Food Expanded Recall for Victor Super Premium Dog Food; 20 Product Lines Involved (UPDATED 11/09/2023)

Maker: Mid America Pet FoodCause: Potential Salmonella contaminationAnnouncement: FDA recall announcement dated October 30, 2023 (archived here) and November 9, 2023 (archived here), full list of recalled products (archived here)

What was recalled on November 9, 2023

Updated from original recall on October 30, 2023. For clarity, the lot code can be found on the back of the bag.

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

• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002343, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005092, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002336, best by 10/31/2024

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

• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002428, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005108, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002152, best by 10/31/2024

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

• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002411, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005115, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002053, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Ocean Fish Formula

• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002497, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005122, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002077, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Grain Free Chicken Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe

• 30lb bag, UPC 854524005016, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005245, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005047, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Grain Free Lamb Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe

• 30lb bag, UPC 854524005177, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005160, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005184, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Grain Free Yukon River Canine

• 30lb bag, UPC 894308002510, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 894308002527, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002176, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Purpose Grain Free Active Dog & Puppy

• 30lb bag, UPC 894308002473, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 894308002534, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002169, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Purpose Grain Free Hero Canine

• 50lb bag, UPC 894308002763, best by 10/31/2024
• 30lb bag, UPC 894308002381, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005290, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Purpose Grain Free Ultra Pro

• 30lb bag, UPC 894308002480, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005306, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Purpose Performance

• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002404, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005337, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Purpose Nutra Pro

• 40lb bag, UPC 854524005085, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005146, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005078, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Purpose Senior Healthy Weight

• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002572, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005153, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002596, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Classic Elite Canine

• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002824, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 894308002831, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002848, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Classic High Energy

• 50lb bag, UPC 854524005252, best by 10/31/2024
• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002367, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005313, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Classic Hi-Pro Plus

• 50lb bag, UPC 854524005276, best by 10/31/2024
• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002374, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 854524005139, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 894308002145, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Classic Multi-Pro

• 50lb bag, UPC 894308002718, best by 10/31/2024
• 40lb bag, UPC 854524005214, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005344, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Classic Professional

• 50lb bag, UPC 854524005269, best by 10/31/2024
• 40lb bag, UPC 894308002350, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 854524005320, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Realtree Edge Energy

• 40lb bag, UPC 899944446056, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 899944446063, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 899944446070, best by 10/31/2024

Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Realtree Max-5 Pro

• 40lb bag, UPC 899944446025, best by 10/31/2024
• 15lb bag, UPC 899944446032, best by 10/31/2024
• 5lb bag, UPC 899944446049, best by 10/31/2024

Overview

Mid America Pet Food, based in Mount Pleasant, Texas, has voluntarily recalled multiple Victor Super Premium Dog Food products with Best by Dates lines before 10/31/2024. The potential contamination by Salmonella was detected after a third-party conducted random product testing from three lots which tested positive on October 30, 2023. As of November, 9, 2023, the recall expanded to other Mid America Pet Food product lines including recalled Wayne Feeds Dog Food products and recalled Members Mark Dog Food products.

Implications for Pets and Humans:

Salmonella can have harmful effects not only on pets but also on humans. Heres what to watch out for:

• For Humans: Symptoms can range from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, to more severe issues like arterial infections, arthritis, and urinary tract symptoms.
• For Pets: Signs include lethargy, diarrhea (potentially bloody), vomiting, decreased appetite, and fever.

It is essential to note that while pets can exhibit these symptoms after consumption, healthy pets can also act as carriers, posing a risk to other animals and humans.

Immediate Actions to Take:

• Retailers are urged to remove these specific lots from shelves and inventory.
• Do not donate or sell these products.
• Consumers should avoid feeding the recalled product to their pets.
• Securely dispose of the product ensuring it is inaccessible to kids, pets, and wildlife.
• Wash and sanitize food bowls and storage containers.

Contact Information:

For more information, reach out to Mid America Pet Food Consumer Affairs either via email at [emailprotected] or call 1-888-428-7544 between 8 AM to 11 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) seven days a week.

For media inquiries, Tim Schramm is available at 908-370-4771.

Always prioritize the safety and health of your pets. Its better to be cautious and ensure that the products we provide for them are free from potential hazards. Always monitor any changes in your pets health, and if in doubt, contact your veterinarian immediately.

We urge our readers to spread the word about this recall, ensuring the safety of pets and pet owners alike. Stay informed and stay safe!

View other recent pet food recalls here, and if you have not done so already, we urge you to sign up now for Petfuls FREE recall alertsby email. Our free alerts are saving pets lives.

There were more recalls in 2023. See the previous one:

Previous Recall

(Or browse recalls by brand name)