The FDA's Mass Pet-Food Recall: Understanding Deadly Aflatoxin
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On 11 January this year, something momentous happened for pet-owning families in the United States. A batch of food from one manufacturer was found contaminated with aflatoxin and was pulled from shelves and recalled. For more than 300 dogs and cats the discovery came too late — aflatoxin had already done irreversible harm, and by 26 January about 110 pets had died. On 25 January the FDA announced that the possible countries of origin for the affected food included Taiwan.
What is aflatoxin, and why is it so dangerous?
Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by moulds — a mycotoxin. Like many mycotoxins it is potentially carcinogenic. It is also teratogenic, mutagenic and immunosuppressive in most mammals, and because it is strongly hepatotoxic, excess intake causes liver failure and can be fatal.
It can form on many crops but is most common in corn, cottonseed, peanuts and tree nuts. Its risk relates to both toxicity and exposure — even low doses, eaten long-term, cause serious harm. Affected animals show reduced appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes, gums and skin), unexplained bruising, bleeding and diarrhoea; severe cases are fatal.
Because most aflatoxin symptoms are non-specific (note 1), vets find it hard to diagnose from the pet's condition alone. If you suspect aflatoxin poisoning, bring the food and its packaging to the appointment.
What can I do to protect my pet?
Warm and humid places are where mould is happiest — sound familiar? All of Taiwan is a catwalk for mould.
At 24–35 °C and 25–35% moisture, mould grows freely and may produce aflatoxin. Dog and cat food comes as "dry food" precisely because dryness keeps it stable.
Typical kibble is under 10% moisture. Once opened at home, besides keeping it somewhere cool, reseal it properly every time — don't let Taiwan's humid air become an accomplice in contaminating your pet's food.
Avoiding corn, the ingredient most prone to aflatoxin, won't guarantee a lifetime of safety (even raw milk can carry aflatoxin), but statistically foods with corn and mixed grains carry higher risk. Since June 2019 there have been six recalls across the US for excess aflatoxin — and every one of the affected foods contained corn and wheat.
Beyond choosing food and storing it well, leftover ingredients from home-cooked meals and half-eaten food must go in the fridge to stop mould running riot.
Finally, once you've done everything at home, buy from a trusted manufacturer (note 2). Before food reaches you — manufacturing, packaging, transport, storage in warehouse and shop — there are countless variables you can't control. Only a reputable, responsible maker can ensure every mouthful is both tasty and safe.
Note 1: some infections cause rare, distinctive symptoms — for instance loss of smell and taste in COVID-19 — which point straight to the cause; these are "specific" symptoms. Vomiting and diarrhoea, by contrast, can arise from so many diseases that they tell us little about the underlying cause.
Note 2: Real Power products use no corn or wheat. The grain in our dog food is refrigerated white rice from Taiwan's Chianan Plain — not the broken, brewing or brown rice commonly used in US and European feeds and frequently contaminated by mycotoxins, but CNS 24259 grade-2 white rice, the same you buy in the supermarket. Our rice is kept in cold storage, greatly reducing the chance of mould and insect damage. In every SGS test to date, aflatoxin has been not detected (N/D), meeting the national standard for pathogenic microorganisms and harmful substances in pet food.
Real Power has a few more tricks: every recipe in the natural balanced range includes a nano natural toxin binder that absorbs aflatoxin your pet may pick up from other food or the environment. And if a larger dose is swallowed by accident, the methionine we emphasise in the formula helps reduce liver damage from toxins.
As a professional pet-food brand, Real Power always puts pet health first.
❚ Further reading: Why Real Power refuses soybeans, wheat and other legumes
References
- Aquino S, Corrêa B. Aflatoxins in pet foods: a risk to special consumers. Aflatoxins — Detection, Measurements and Control (2011).
- US FDA announcements: Recalls & Withdrawals; FDA Alert: Sportmix pet food recalled for potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin.
- Brand official websites.
