Sunshine Mills Recalls Multiple Varieties Of Dog Food

A fairly large voluntary recall by Sunshine Mills, Inc. is affecting a wide-swath of commercially-prepared dog food - sold under an umbrella of different brand names.  According to information released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the concern is potentially-elevated levels of aflatoxin.

All of the dog foods included in the voluntary recall are corn-based; that ingredient is the source for the potential problems, as a single load of corn was delivered to the manufacturer that contained elevated levels of aflatoxin.  According to the US FDA, "[a]flatoxin is a naturally-occurring mold by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities".

It's important to note that there have been no known illnesses reported in association with the recalled products.  The recall is due to a high-degree of caution and concern.

The Sunshine Mills, Inc. dog food products were all produced between April 3, 2020 and April 5, 2020.  There are a large number of different brand names and sub-varieties included in the recall; the US FDA website contains a very-detailed list of them - including important information like size, lot codes, and UPC codes.  Here, though is a summarized listing of the brand names:

• Champ
• Field Trial
• Good Dog
• Hunter's Special
• Old Glory
• Paws Happy Life
• Pet Expert
• Principle
• Retriever
• River Bend
• Sportsman's Pride
• Sprout
• Thrifty
• Top Runner
• Whiskers & Tails

Aflatoxin toxicity (aflatoxicosis symptoms pet owners should be looking for include sluggishness, lethargy, a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, diarrhea, and in some cases - death.  Consumers who have any of the recalled dog food products should discontinue the use of it, and the unused portion should be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund.  You can also contact Sunshine Mills, Inc. at 1-800-705-2111.