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Pet Foods Are Recalled

Posted on: Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 18:00 CST

By Karla Ward, Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

Jan. 11--Kentucky is one of 23 states covered by a recall of contaminated dog and cat foods, but state officials said yesterday that they have not received reports of any pet deaths here.

The 19 varieties of food covered in the recall are manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods and might be contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxic chemical produced by a fungus that can grow on corn and other crops during years of drought and excessive heat.

The toxic foods have killed at least 76 dogs nationwide, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Diamond's foods are sold at more than 360 Kentucky locations, many of which are farm supply stores, according to the company's Web site.

But several retailers who sell the products said yesterday that they had checked their stock and did not have any of the contaminated food.

Harold Prewitt, owner of Prewitt Feed & Farm Supply in Williamsburg, said that, although his store did not get any, a lot of customers are asking about the toxic food.

He said he'll probably start carrying a different brand, since customers now seem distrustful of Diamond's product.

"I've had two or three bags brought back," he said. "People don't want to buy it."

Diamond's Web site suggested that Eastern Kentucky stores might have been more likely to get the contaminated food than other parts of the state. Attempts to reach the company were unsuccessful.

Louise Cook, executive director of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association, and Bill Clary, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, said they have not received reports of pets becoming ill in Kentucky after eating the food.

People whose pets have eaten food included in the recall should have a veterinarian run a liver profile if symptoms occur.

Symptoms include loss of appetite; yellow whites of eyes, gums or skin; fever; discolored urine; severe vomiting; and bloody diarrhea.

Diamond Pet Foods has said it will reimburse pet owners for vet bills and other costs associated with the aflatoxin poisoning. People who have bags of recalled products may return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.)

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