The FDA is alerting pet owners about potential pentobarbital contamination in certain canned dog foods manufactured by The J.M. Smucker Company. The recall includes various cans of Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy brands.
The withdrawn products were distributed to retailers nationwide. The list of withdrawn products The J.M. Smucker Company provided to the FDA includes:
|
Item Name |
UPC |
|
Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with T-Bone Flavor Chunks |
7910052541 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Strips | 7910052542 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Lamb and Rice Chunks | 7910052543 |
| Gravy Train 22 oz. with Chicken Chunks | 7910051645 |
| Gravy Train 22 oz. with Beef Chunks | 7910051647 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Chunks | 7910034417 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Chicken Chunks | 7910034418 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy Stew | 7910051933 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chicken, Beef & Liver Medley | 7910051934 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks | 7910034417 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Burger Bacon Cheese and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Variety 12-Pack | 7910010377 7910010378 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Meatball Pasta and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Variety Pack | 7910010382 7910048367 7910010378 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Burger Bacon Cheese and Beef Vegetable Variety Pack | 7910010380 7910010377 7910010375 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Wet Variety Pack | 7910010375 7910048367 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Beef & Vegetable in Gravy | 7910010375 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetable in Gravy | 7910010378 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Homestyle Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy | 7910010380 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Select Cuts in Gravy with Beef & Bone Marrow | 7910071860 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Select Cuts with Burgers & Cheese Bits | 7910050243 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy with Smoky Turkey & Bacon | 7910050246 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy with Beef & Chicken | 7910050247 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy 3 in 1 Chicken, Beef & Liver | 7910050248 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Chunks in Gravy Chunky Stew | 7910050249 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Strips in Gravy with Chicken | 7910050244 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz, Premium Chunks in Gravy with Beef | 7910050250 |
| Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Strips in Gravy with Beef | 7910050245 |
| Ol’ Roy 13.2 oz Turkey Bacon Strips | 8113117570 |
The FDA has become aware of reports of other products also subject to withdrawal, and has requested clarification from The J.M. Smucker Company regarding the status of these other products.
Consumers should not feed their pets the withdrawn lots of J.M. Smucker pet food. Consumers who purchased these products should safely dispose of the cans and/or contact the firm for information about returning the product. Pet owners who think their pets may be ill from eating food contaminated with pentobarbital should first contact their veterinarians, then report complaints electronically through the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.
The FDA is monitoring for reports of any pet illnesses associated with pentobarbital contamination in these products. Pentobarbital is a barbiturate drug that is most commonly used in animals as a sedative, anesthetic, or for euthanasia. The FDA’s preliminary evaluation of the testing results of Gravy Train samples indicates that the low level of pentobarbital present in the withdrawn products is unlikely to pose a health risk to pets. However, any detection of pentobarbital in pet food is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act—simply put, pentobarbital should not be in pet food . The FDA is investigating to learn the potential source and route of the contamination.
Pets that eat pet food containing pentobarbital can experience drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner) and inability to stand. Consuming high levels of pentobarbital can cause coma and death. However, pentobarbital present in the withdrawn products is at a low level unlikely to pose a health risk to pets.
See the full FDA Alert for this recall HERE.
