In Loving Memory of
K-9 KAZAN
January 11, 2006
Partner:
Montgomery County Sheriff
Alabama
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Information regarding dog food,
not stating that this was what killed Kazan.
Update: Diamond Pet Food Recalled Due to Aflatoxin
By fc Jan 9, 2006, 14:09
Diamond Pet Food on Dec. 20 issued a recall for the products
manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina facility where a product has
been found contaminated with aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a group of
toxic metabolites of the fungus Aspergillus
flavus, commonly found in or on corn, peanuts, nuts and other crops.
The company recommended distributors hold the sale of all Diamond Pet
Food products formulated with corn that were produced in the Gaston
facility. Products removed from sale included Diamond Low Fat Dog
Food, Diamond
Hi-Energy Dog Food, Diamond Maintenance Dog Food, Diamond Performance
Dog Food, Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food, Diamond Puppy Food, Diamond
Maintenance Cat Food, Diamond Professional Cat Food, Country Value
Puppy, Country Value Adult Dog, Country Value High Energy Dog, Country
Value Adult Cat Food, Professional Chicken & Rice Senior Dog Food,
Professional Reduced Fat Chicken & Rice Dog Food, Professional
Adult Dog Food, Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food, Professional Puppy
Food, Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food, Professional Adult Cat
Food. Diamond Pet Food said products manufactured at facilities
in Meta, Missouri and Lathrop, California were not affected. The
Gaston facility date codes are unique from other Diamond facility
codes in that either the eleventh or twelfth character in the date code
will be a capital "G" (in reference to Gaston). The range of date codes
being reviewed are "Best By 01-March-07" through Best By " 11-June-07".
Diamond's quantitative analysis records substantiate that Diamond's
corn shipments were definitively clear of aflatoxin after December 10.
As such, "Best By 11-June-07" date codes or later are not affected,
according to the company. States affected by the products include
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky (eastern), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia,
Vermont, and Virginia. Symptoms of aflatoxin induced illness
include sluggishness or lethargy
combined with a reluctance to eat, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes
and/or gums), and severe,
persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea and fever. When a pet
shows any of such symptoms, it should be taken to a veterinarian
immediately for diagnosis and treatment, the company suggested. Later
on Dec 30, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a
consumer alert on the contaminated pet food after learning that 23 dogs
died and another 18 dogs became ill. As of Jan. 6, more than 100 dogs
have died from the illness caused by the contaminated pet food,
according to Cornell News Service. According to the FDA, the
contaminated pet food was exported to 28
countries including countries in Europe, which have been notified of
the safety issue. The FDA has established action levels for
aflatoxin present in food or
feed to protect human and animal health. According to the Food Safety
Research Information Office, an agency of the Department of
Agriculture, Aflatoxin levels must not exceed:
- 20 ppb - For corn and other grains intended for immature animals
(including immature poultry) and for dairy animals, or when its
destination is not known;
- 20 ppb - For animal feeds, other than corn or cottonseed meal;
- 100 ppb - For corn and other grains intended for breeding beef
cattle, breeding swine, or mature poultry;
- 200 ppb - For corn and other grains intended for finishing swine of
100 pounds or greater;
- 300 ppb - For corn and other grains intended for finishing (i.e.,
feedlot) beef cattle and for cottonseed meal intended for beef cattle,
swine or poultry.
Facts about aflatoxins
* Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxins that are metabolic
byproducts of fungi, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus parasiticus,
which grow on many food crops under favorable conditions.
* Aflatoxin is an mycotoxin literally means poison from a fungi and are
named on the basis of the fungus that produces them, thus “Aflatoxin”
uses the “A” for Aspergillus and “fla” for the species “flavus” along
with the word toxin.
* Adverse impact on animal and human health with acute toxicological
effects such as liver damage and cancer can occur.
* The major types of aflatoxins are B1, B2, G1, G2, and M1, with
aflatoxin B1 being the most toxic, and usually predominant. Aflatoxin
B1 is a very potent carcinogen to humans and animals.
* Aflatoxins can invade the food supply at anytime during production,
processing, transport or storage.
* Conditions that contribute to fungal growth and the production of
aflatoxins are: a hot and humid climate, kernel moisture, favorable
substrate characteristics, and factors that decrease the host plant’s
immunity (insect damage, poor fertilization, and drought).
* Food and food crops most prone to contamination are corn and corn
products, cottonseed, peanuts and peanut products, tree nuts (pistachio
nuts, pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts) and milk.
Aflatoxicosis and health effects
Aflatoxicosis is a condition that results from ingestion of
aflatoxin-contaminated food or feed. It is primarily a hepatic disease
affecting animals and humans.In animals the condition occurs worldwide.
The condition can be found on animals worldwide. The health impact is
usually only seen in third world countries, and there have not been any
cases of aflatoxicosis reported in the United States.
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Tainted Food May Have Killed Police Dog
1/13/06 KY
It has already killed more than 100 dogs across the country, and now it
appears that a batch of contaminated dog food has claimed the life of a
Montgomery County police dog.
Montgomery County Sheriff Fred Shortridge says his office's K-9, Kazan,
died Wednesday. And while he waits for test results, Shortridge says he
thinks the dog may be
the latest victim of food made by Diamond Pet
Foods that was contaminated with a corn fungus. "That's all we fed our
dog," said Shortridge. "I'm not saying that this is what caused Kazan's
death. I don't know. But it's odd that we got a healthy dog, and all of
a sudden, in a two or three week timeframe, that he's dead." Kazan's
body has been sent to the University of Kentucky for an necropsy.
Shortridge says the crime-fighting pooch will be missed. "He is a
police officer, and you get attached to him," he said.
Shortridge says he bought the Belgian Malinois a little more than a
year ago with the help of donations from the community. The sheriff's
office even received a grant recently to buy Kazan a bullet-proof
vest. Shortridge says Kazan served as a tracking and narcotics
dog for his department, but also helped other neighboring counties and
towns.
submitted by Jim
Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
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Memorials
to Fallen K-9s 