FDA Investigation of Diamond Pet Food Finds Some Product Exported

December 30, 2005

In its continuing investigation of the contamination of pet food manufactured at Diamond Pet Food’s Gaston, SC, facility, the Food and Drug Administration has found that some of the product subject to a company recall had been exported to at least 29 countries, including countries within the European Union.

Diamond Pet Foods is recalling certain lots of pet food made at the plant earlier this year after the discovery that some of the products were contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxin created by the fungus Aspergillus flavus. The company has notified distributors and asked them to hold recalled products.

FDA’s Office of International Programs has notified the countries that received the product about the recall.

To date, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has received reports from four States of 41 dogs becoming ill reportedly from consumption of the contaminated pet food, with 23 of these dogs having died.