U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill Inc. said it was voluntarily recalling a year’s output of dog food under the brands River Run and Marksman due to high levels of aflatoxin.
The dog food was manufactured at Cargill’s Lecompte, La., plant from Dec. 1, 2010, to Dec. 1, 2011, and distributed in 13 states and two territories: Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Hawaii, Florida, California, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“No illnesses have been reported in association with these products to date, and no other Cargill Animal Nutrition pet food products are involved in this recall,” Cargill said in a statement.
Aflatoxin, a toxic substance that can cause liver failure and death in dogs, is often found as a byproduct of a corn fungus. The fungus tends to develop on crops during years of severe heat and drought and is most commonly found in the southern United States.
At least 76 dogs were believed to have died in the United States in 2006 after eating aflatoxin-infected food produced by Diamond Pet Foods.
They are recalling all River Run and Marksman dry dog food on the market in 13 states: Kansas, Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, Southern Illinois, Hawaii, and limited areas of Florida and California. Guam and the Virgin Islands are also affected.