Affected Dog Foods + death from Diamond Pet Foods.
These Dog food brands were taken off the shelves except for Walmart who didn't care and left them on the shelves anyway.
The following is a news story about dogs who have died or gotten very sick from eating Diamond Pet Foods.
NBC NewsDog food recallJan. 9: The Food and Drug Administration reports that at least 76 dogs nationwide are believed to have died as a result of eating contaminated Diamond dog foods.
Shanika Stewart force-feeds strawberry-flavored Ensure through a syringe to her 9 year-old Chow "Cocoa" at her home at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. The dog suffered permanent liver damage after being exposed to aflatoxin in a batch of Diamond dog food.
Dec. 22: With the number of homeless pets nearly doubled compared with last year, one 9-year-old decided to take action — and thanks to his Central Florida Animal Pantry, a lot of four-legged friends are no longer in need.
msnbc.com news servicesupdated 8:08 a.m. PT, Wed., May 10, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that at least 76 dogs nationwide are believed to have died as a result of eating contaminated Diamond dog foods.
The company has recalled 19 varieties of dog and cat food because tests showed high levels of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxic chemical that comes from a fungus found on corn and other grains that causes severe liver damage in animals.
The company recalled products manufactured at its Gaston, S.C., plant from around September to November 2005. Based on sample testing, Diamond has narrowed down the exposure to food produced on Oct. 11, Brinkmann said Thursday.
The FDA and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture have launched investigations.
Customers who have purchased the recalled Diamond dog food manufactured in the South Carolina plant should immediately stop using it and return any remaining product to their retailer, according to the FDA.
The range of date codes being reviewed are "Best By 01-March-07" through Best By " 11-June-07".
FDA also has discovered that some of the recalled product was exported to at least 29 countries, including countries within the European Union. These countries have been notified.
Diamond officials say they are doing what they can to help affected pet owners.
“It’s going to take some time to take care of all these customers, and we’re going to do it,” said the company’s chief operating officer, Mark Brinkmann.Diamond has promised to reimburse pet owners for vet bills and other costs associated with the aflatoxin poisoning, which officials now believe may include pets in Europe and other areas outside the country where the food is distributed.
Related coverageComplete list of states and brands affected by recall
The company set up a call center staffed with veterinarians.
The call volume peaked at about 2,000 calls a day last week, Brinkmann said.Shanika Stewart has been caring for her ailing 9-year-old chow, force-feeding the animal with a syringe six times a day since suffering permanent liver damage after eating contaminated dog food.“I haven’t had any time to do anything but take care of her,” said Stewart, a 19-year-old nursing student at the University of South Carolina.
“She’s the No. 1 priority. ... I get maybe four hours of sleep before she wakes me up.” Aflatoxin poisoning symptoms.
Aflatoxin comes from a fungus found on corn and other crops and can cause severe liver damage in pets.
If your pet shows any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.— Sluggishness— Loss of appetite— Jaundice (yellow whites of the eyes, gums, belly)—
Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea.
FeverSource:
Food and Drug AdministrationThrough relocations from Army bases in Georgia, Oklahoma, Washington and now South Carolina, Cocoa has been a constant companion for Stewart, whose father is serving in Iraq.
When her own daughter died last year, Stewart said Cocoa helped her through her grief. “It was like she understood,” Stewart said. “She was my best friend.”
Severe liver damage
Stewart’s other dog, a 2-year-old pit bull named Chulo, died last month just hours after being diagnosed with liver failure. It was only then that the family learned of the recall.
Stewart initially thought Cocoa had refused to eat because she was depressed about losing Chulo. After the recall, the family vet confirmed aflatoxin poisoning in Cocoa, Stewart said.
Steve Shrum, president of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, said vets around the state were confused when puppies began showing signs of liver problems usually seen in older dogs.
More dog deaths linked to toxic food, scientists say
It takes such a small amount, and there’s pretty much nothing you can do with the process that will inactivate that toxin once it gets in the food supply,” he said.
Stewart says she has not spoken with anyone at the company despite several calls. The family has filled out an online form explaining their situation.
You don’t get anybody to talk to and tell your story,” she said. “It’s like they’re not concerned. To me, it’s like they’re saying, ’Oh well, we’ll get to it when we get to it.”’
Brinkmann was sympathetic.
;We’re going as fast as we can,” he said. “I grieve with her, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we can do right by her.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets 2. Authority 3. Award 4. Best Choice 5. Big Bet 6. Big Red 7. Bloom 8. Wegmans Bruiser 9. Cadillac 10. Companion 11. Diamond Pet Foods. 11. Demoulas Market Basket 12. Eukanuba 13. Food Lion 14. Giant Companion 15. Great Choice 16. Hannaford 17. Hill Country Fare 18. Hy-Vee 19. Iams 20. Laura Lynn 21. Loving Meals 22. Meijers Main Choice 23. Mighty Dog Pouch 24. Mixables 25. Nutriplan 26. Nutro Max 27. Nutro Natural Choice 28. Nutro Ultra 29. Nutro 30. Ol'Roy Canada 31. Ol'Roy US 32. Paws 33. Pet Essentials 34. Pet Pride - Good n Meaty 35. Presidents Choice 36. Price Chopper 37. Priority Canada 38. Priority US 39. Publix 40. Roche Brothers 41. Save-A-Lot 42. Schnucks 43. Shep Dog 44. Springsfield Prize 45. Sprout 46. Stater Brothers 47. Stop & Shop Companion 48. Tops Companion 49. Weis Total Pet 50. Western Family US 51. White Rose 52. Winn Dixie 53. Your Pet
