Purina recall

[Clair Thunes]

Dear Newsletter Subscribers,

I am forwarding the following for your information as I know that some
of you may be in the effected states or know others who live in
effected states. I have spoken with Purina and the information is
correct and was put together by Dr Eleanor Kellon, VMD Horse Journal
Veterinary Editor.

Regards
Clair
PS I am working on the next issue of the newsletter and hope to have
it out to you soon.


Major Feed Recall

Land O Lakes/Purina has issued a feed retrieval for a number of
brands.

Land O Lakes/Purina has issued feed recalls, or "retrievals," for a
variety of their brands manufactured between the dates of November 3,
2007, and March 10, 2008. These feeds were identified to contain
greater than 20 ppb of aflatoxins, originating from a single
ingredient from a single supplier. Only specific manufacturing plants
and dates are involved. The recalled products also vary.

As of May 6, 2008, the contaminated feeds had been distributed in the
following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont,
Virginia and West Virginia.

The manufacturing plants involved, and dates, are:• Statesville, North
Carolina: Feeds manufactured between November 3, 2007, and February 8,
2008.• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Feeds manufactured between January 1,
2008, and February 8, 2008.• Guilderland, New York: Feeds manufactured
between January 8, 2008, and March 10, 2008.

If you have purchased a Purina feed and live in one of the involved
states, check the bottom edge of your feed bag for a date code. The
date codes on Purina feeds are in this format: 7NOV03STA

The first number is the year. "7" = 2007, "8" = 2008. The next code is
the month. "NOV" = November. Next two digits are the day. "03" = 3rd
(of November in this case). Last three letters are the plant code. STA
= Statesville. HAR = Harrisburg. GLD = Guilderland.

If you have feed from one of these three plants manufactured within
the recall dates, call your feed dealer to see if your specific brand
is involved in the recall. If you purchased feed during the time
frames listed for the recall but no longer have your bags, call your
dealer anyway to see if the feed you use was involved in the recall.

If your horses are having health problems of unknown cause, call your
veterinarian and let him/her know you may have fed aflatoxin-
contaminated feed. Feed, urine or liver biopsy tissues can be tested
for aflatoxin and aflatoxin metabolites. Your state’s Department of
Agriculture should also be notified if your veterinarian suspects feed
related health issues.

Note: As of May 6, this was an ongoing issue. Further recalls could be
issued. Details are still very sketchy. Other feeds could also be
involved but no details are available. Signs range from acute liver
failure to stunted growth in young horses, poor hair coat, abnormal
liver enzymes on blood chemistry, jaundice (yellow eyes and gums),
feed refusal, unexplained loss of condition, poor immune system
function. Fetal abnormalities have been reported in other species.

Eleanor Kellon, VMD
Horse Journal Veterinary Editor