In the news

Two lawsuits were filed against Gravy Train dog food because the products are alleged to contain pentobarbital, a chemical used in dogs and cats euthanasia. “Pentobarbital is a Class II controlled substance, and there is no safe or set level for pentobarbital in pet food,” the Gravy Train class action lawsuit says. “If it is present, the food is adulterated.” The pentobarbital contained in Gravy Train dog food may have gotten into the product because the food is made from rendered animal products. Rendered products come from a process that converts animal tissues into feed ingredients, including tissues from animals that were euthanized, decomposed or diseased. @ https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/837904-gravy-train-dog-food-poisonous-class-action-claims/

In an Email, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the recognition of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) of Washington, D.C. as the second accreditation body under FSMA Accreditation Third-Party Certification for five years. ANSI and other accredited bodies can serve as third-party auditors and can conduct food safety audits and issue certifications of foreign food facilities. ANSI has the authority to accredit certification bodies with the ability to conduct food safety audits as they relate to the following regulations: Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food (Preventive Controls for Human Food rule), Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Produce Safety Rule), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems (Juice HACCP), and Fish and Fishery Products (Seafood HACCP).

The CDC announced that the outbreak linked to SalmonellaTyphimurium in chicken salad sold by Fareway Stores and produced by Triple T Specialty Meats Inc. has expanded with 105 new cases in 6 states. The new cases are people that bought the product before the recall, but their report to CDC was delayed. The total number of ill people reached 170 in 7 states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Indiana, and Texas) with 62 hospitalizations. More cases are likely due to the delay in reporting.@ https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium-02-18/index.html

Raw Basic from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin announced a voluntary recall of “Tucker’s Pork-Bison Formula” due to potential Salmonella contamination. This is another recall in a long series of recalls that happened in the last month. No illnesses have been reported. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture notified Raw Basics of positive Salmonella findings after a routine test. The potential for contamination is reported to be isolated to one lot of products (108 boxes) distributed in Minnesota, Georgia, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. @ https://iheartdogs.com/yet-another-brand-added-to-the-growing-list-of-dog-food-recalled-for-possible-salmonella-contamination/