Dog Foods Recalled Again Over Pentobarbital Poisoning Risks

Several popular dog food brands, including Kibble’s ‘N Bits, Gravy Train and Ol’ Roy, have been recalled amid concerns that they may have dangerously high levels of pentobarbital, which is a drug used to euthanize animals.

A dog food recall was announced by J.M. Smucker Company, after random sample testing confirmed the presence of the drug, which may pose a pentobarbital poisoning risk if consumed by pets.

Pentobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate, which is commonly used as a euthanasia sedative and can be lethal to animals if ingested orally. Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, and death.

The contaminated dog food products are being recalled after the FDA was alerted of routine testing that showed positive pentobarbital results in certain cans of Gravy Train dog food manufactured by J.M. Smucker Company.

The manufacturer has initiated recalls for its Gravy Train, Kibble N’ Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy brand dog food manufactured during the same time frame that could also contain similar ingredients contaminated with pentobarbital.

The recall involves about 20 different types of canned dog food products manufactured by J.M. Smucker Company from 2016 through the recall date, and the manufacturer is urging customer to visit the FDA’s official recall notice linked above for a full list of recalled products, can sizes and UPC codes.

According to the FDA, any level of pentobarbital in pet food is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and that an investigation has been opened and is still ongoing to determine the source of contamination.

The presence of pentobarbital in pet food has been identified by the FDA several times over the last year, however the source of the contamination has been difficult to identify and have led o a number of similar recalls over the last year..

In February 2017, Evanger’s Hunks of Beef recalled Against the Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner for Dogs after at least one consumer’s pets became very ill and one died, after which laboratory testing identified the euthanizing agent.

A second pentobarbital dog food recall was announced in April 2017, after the FDA identified the presence of the sedative in Party Animal Cocolicious canned pet dog food after routine testing.

Some experts have claimed the drug can be within the pet food if it contains “byproducts” from animals that are euthanized. Through transfer of the meat products used in the food, the manufacturing process does not eliminate the drug remains, transferring it to the new dog food.

Retailers are being instructed to remove any Gravy Train, Kibble N’ Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy brand canned dog food manufactured by J.M. Smucker Company from 2016 through present from store shelves and to contact the manufacturer for further instruction.

The FDA is also asking store owners to attempt to reach the customers who purchased the recalled products to notify them of the recall. Customers with recalled dog food cans are being asked to stop feeding the products to their pets immediately and to either properly dispose of it, or contact JM. Smucker Company for return information.