ANNAPOLIS (July 26, 2007) - The Maryland Department of Agriculture today urged pet owners to discard certain canned Natural Balance brand dog food. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled by its manufacturer, Castleberry Food Company, in cooperation with federal food safety and health agencies. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is supporting the recall by issuing a stop sale order to retailers that carry the pet food, checking store shelves, removing the dog food from sale if it is found, and urging anyone with the dog food in question to discard it.
Consumers who have any of these products should throw them away immediately. To dispose of unopened cans of the recalled product, do not open the can. Place in a sealable bag, wrap two plastic bags around it and tape it tightly. Dispose in household trash out of reach of humans and pets. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least two minutes. To dispose of an open can, wear gloves and eye protection and proceed with directions for an unopened can. After disposing of the product, slowly remove gloves and dispose of in a manner that puts the gloves out of reach of humans and pets. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least two minutes. Additional instructions for safe disposal can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov/botulism/botulism_faq.htm
Retailers that have any of these products are asked to assure that they are removed from use and do not accidentally get reintroduced for sale, service or donation.
RECALLED Natural Balance Eatables dog food varieties:
*Irish Stew with Beef Dog Food 15 OZ 23633-59860 (UPC Code)
*Chinese Take Out with Sauce with Vegetables and Chicken Dog Food 15 OZ 23633-59861
*Southern Style Dumplings with Gravy with Chicken and Vegetables Dog Food 15 OZ 23633-59862
*Hobo Chili with Chicken Pasta Dog Food 15 OZ 23633-59863
According to the FDA, if a pet has eaten any of the recalled dog food in the past two weeks, it should be observed for signs of botulism for 10 days after eating the product. If the pet develops signs of botulism, seek private veterinary attention immediately. Signs of botulism in pets are similar to those in people and included double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress with paralysis and difficulty breathing. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days. In addition, the pet may have difficulty holding its head up or its tongue may hang out of the mouth. There is no specific treatment for botulism in animals, but supportive medical care may be helpful.
Additional information about the recall can be found at http://www.fda.gov/ and http://www.castleberrys.com/. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company's Consumer Hotline at (888) 203-8446.
Source: Maryland Department of Agriculture