The Procter and Gamble Co. voluntarily recalled a single-production lot of Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food due to aflatoxin levels detected above the acceptable limit, the Cincinnati-based company reported today. The product has been retrieved from store shelves, and no illnesses have been reported in association with the lot to date, according to the company. The recall includes Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with Use By or Expiration Dates of Feb. 5 or 6, 2013 and the following attributes: Version Code Date(s) UPC Code 7.0 lb. bag 12784177I6 1901402305 8.0 lb. bag 12794177D2, 12794177D3 1901410208 17.5 lb. bag 2794177K1, 12794177K2 1901401848 The affected product lot was distributed to retailers in the Eastern U.S., including the following states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgie, Lousiana, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virgina. Consumers who purchased the product should stop using it and contact Iams for a replacement voucher, the company said. Aflatoxins are produced by toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus on peanuts, soybeans, corn, and other cereals either in the field or during storage when moisture content and temperatures are sufficiently high for mold growth, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. High doses of aflatoxins result in severe hepatocellular necrosis, and prolonged low dosages result in reduced growth rate and liver enlargement. Pets that have consumed the affected product and are exhibiting symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian, the company said. <HOME>
