Recall Roundup - Pet Product Alerts

FDA Recalls 9 Pet Products made by Bravo Packing, Inc. 

According to the FDA, “Bravo Packing, Inc. of Carneys Point, NJ, is expanding the previously announced voluntary recall of two pet food products to now include all pet food and bones in all package sizes. 

During an inspection, samples collected by the FDA tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria, which resulted in a recall due to the potential health risks to both humans and pets. 

Although no human or animal illnesses related to the products have been reported to date, Bravo Packing, Inc. announced it will expand the recall due to potential cross contamination. 

Here is a list of the recalled products:

What To Do if Your Pet’s Food Is Recalled

• Stop feeding the food immediately
• Return unused food to the store where you bought it (you may be eligible for a refund)

If your dog has already eaten the recalled food, and even if he isn’t showing any signs of illness, talk to your vet to determine what actions, if any, you need to take. 

If your pet does become ill (or worse) due to consuming a recalled food product, you can file a complaint with the FDA online or contact your local FDA consumer complaint coordinator.

If you have any additional questions or concerns about your pet’s recalled food, contact Bravo Packing, Inc. at 856-299-1044.

Note: Bravo Packing, Inc. is in no way affiliated with Bravo Pet Foods, a manufacturer of frozen and freeze-dried raw pet foods and pet treats based in Manchester, Connecticut.

Seresto Flea Collar’s Maker Resists Recall After Report of Pet Deaths

The maker of the Seresto flea collar (developed by Bayer and owned by Elanco), said last week it will not issue a recall on the product, despite being asked to do so by a congressional subcommittee. 

Earlier this month, citing documents by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and USA Today reported 1,698 pet deaths linked to the collars since 2012.

The chair of the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy sent a letter to Elanco asking them to temporarily recall the flea collars and issue full refunds to customers.

Elanco responded saying that “no market action is warranted” and that media reports on pet deaths are “misleading.”

Elanco’s Senior Director for Technical Consultants, Tony Rumschlag, DVM, said in a company press release, “Thorough investigation of available data has shown no established link between exposure to the active ingredients in Seresto and pet deaths. Taking drastic action such as a recall results in unjustified worry and confusion that may increase pet exposure to disease carrying parasites like fleas and ticks."

The newspaper report claimed that the EPA has (since 2012) received more than 75,000 incident reports about pet and human harm linked to use of the collar. Included in the reports are at least 1,698 pet deaths and 907 humans harmed.

Elanco claimed the reported rate of adverse incidents in the US is less than 0.3%, based on more than 25,000 Seresto collars used on pets (and 25M sold) since 2012. But, according to the economic subcommittee’s letter, the actual number of deaths and injuries could be much higher since consumers may be unaware that these incidents should be reported to the EPA.

Elanco stated that such claims by the media have been refuted by toxicologists and veterinarians, who noted that correlation does not necessarily mean causation in the incident reports. Counterfeit collars may also be a complicating factor.

Elanco said it will continue to take actions to achieve the highest levels of safety and efficacy for Seresto.