Cargill recalls animal feed products containing excessive aflatoxin
At the request of the United States Food and Drug Administration, the voluntary recall of Cargill feed products has been continued. On December 14, 2011, Cargill Animal Nutrition announced that certain poultry, calf, and whole and cracked corn products manufactured at the Lecompte, Louisiana facility in the fall of 2011 contained potentially dangerous levels of aflatoxin. Regulatory limits on foods with the potential to contain large amounts of aflatoxin, including animal feed, have been established to safeguard human and animal health. Short-term exposure to aflatoxin can cause lethargy, loss of coordination, muscle spasms and convulsions. More permanent symptoms may include anemia,weight loss, bloody stool, jaundice, diarrhea and formation of hematomas (a collection of blood outside blood vessels) beneath the skin. Humans can become affected with aflatoxin related health complications if a large amount of food containing the substance is ingested. Animal feed products affected by this recall were manufactured between September of 2011 and December of 2011 for sale at Tractor Supply company retail stores throughout Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. The affected Dumor and Producer’s Pride brand animal feed products include Dumor Chick Starter/Grower, Naturwise Cleaned Cracked Corn, Producer’s Pride Cracked Corn, Naturewise Meatbird Crumbles, Producer’s Pride Whole Corn, Showmaster Premium Show Calf Grower, and Naturewise Chic Starter Grower in 25 and 50 pound bags. Affected animal feed products bear Date codes ranging from 4K1249 to 4K1335. The affected products have been removed from retailer shelves, and customers are encouraged to return previously purchased products to their place of purchase, where they can collect a full refund or replacement product, regardless of the state of the returned product.
