J.M. Smucker Company Withdrawing Shipments of Dog Food after Euthanasia Drug Found: Is the FDA Complicit?

Since the public at large was recently made aware of pentobarbital found in a can of Evanger’s dog food leading to the death of Nikki Mael’s pet pug in January 2017,  the J. M. Smucker Company has initiated the withdrawal of specific shipments of Gravy Train®, Kibbles ‘N Bits®, Ol’ Roy®, and Skippy® canned/wet dog food because they do not meet its quality specifications due to the presence of extremely low levels of pentobarbital.

Pentobarbital is a commonly used barbiturate used to humanely euthanize dogs, cats, and horses at veterinarian offices and animal shelters.

A news station in DC investigated the death of Talula, a pug who died after eating Evanger’s canned dog food and discovered shocking results:  60 perent of Gravy Train canned dog food had the euthanasia drug pentobarbital in it.   Gravy Train is made by Big Heart Pet Foods and owned by Smucker’s.

The question remains and has not been answered as to why or how pentobarbital was found  in this dog food.    It is a mystery because Smuckers maintains  ” they do not use 3D or 4D meat (euthanized animals/pets) in their dog food.  They don’t use dead, dying, disabled, or diseased animals.”   

Then how did this toxic and deadly drug find its way into cans of dog food leading to at least one deceased dog and causing three other dogs in the Mael family to become extremely ill in January 2017?    The three other dogs have since recovered.

Nikki Mael and four pugs
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According to Smucker’s website, the focus of the investigation is a single supplier and a single, minor ingredient, used at one manufacturing facility. We will take the appropriate steps to ensure this does not occur again.    They are focused on one single supplier and a single, minor ingredient, used at one manufacturing facility.    Smucker’s said it will never happen again.

Smucker cited experts noting that the low levels of the drug cited in the report do not pose a threat to pets.

“We will continue to work closely with our suppliers and veterinarians to ensure the ingredients used in our products meet or exceed all regulatory safety standards and our high-quality standards.  We are committed to ensuring pet owners can continue to feel confident that they are making the best decision for their pets when they choose our brand.”

If you have questions, please call us at 800-828-9980 or email us here.

The following products are impacted by the recall:

Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with T-Bone Flavor Chunks, UPC code: 7910052541
Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Strips, UPC code: 7910052542
Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Lamb and Rice Chunks, UPC code: 7910052543
Gravy Train 22 oz. with Chicken Chunks, UPC code: 7910051645
Gravy Train 22 oz. with Beef Chunks, UPC code: 7910051647
Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Chunks, UPC code: 7910034417
Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Chicken Chunks, UPC code: 7910034418
Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy Stew, UPC code: 7910051933
Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chicken, Beef & Liver Medley, UPC code: 7910051934
Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks, UPC code: 7910034417
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Burger Bacon Cheese and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Variety 12-Pack, UPC codes: 7910010377, 7910010378
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Meatball Pasta and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Var. Pack, UPC codes: 7910010382, 7910048367, 7910010378
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Burger Bacon Cheese and Beef Vegetable Variety Pack, UPC codes: 7910010380, 7910010377, 7910010375
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Wet Variety Pack, UPC codes: 7910010375, 7910048367
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Beef & Vegetable in Gravy, UPC codes: 7910010375, 7910048367
Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Homestyle Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy, UPC codes: 7910010378, 7910010380

I would be scared out of my wits to find out the carefully selected dog food I’ve been giving to my best friend contains the drug that is used to euthanized dogs, cats, and horses.    How could I ever trust a company again?   For many of us, our beloved dogs are cherished members of our families.   I personally wouldn’t have the ability to trust them.  But, that’s  me.  Thankfully, I’ve never been in the position that Nikki Mael and her four dogs were forced to endure.    I can’t blame her for making her own food for her dogs from that point.    I would do the same.

What’s even more horrifying is that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) acknowledged ““pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) …will be considered fit for animal consumption”  but they’ve refused to do anything about it!    

Who do you trust?   There is no excuse for any of this.

The FDA regulates that any animal that will be consumed by people cannot be killed this way, but dog food is not so regulated.   That’s how companies can get away with not only substandard food, but dangerous and even lethal food production for animals.

Using deceased animals in dog food was known in a 2004 report to Congress which found that some of the “renderings that make their way into dog food come from dead animals from farm and animal shelters.”     Those “rendered” materials were identified as, among other things, “dead animals from farms, animal shelters and other facilities.”

Under federal law, these are adulterated ingredients which are defined partly as “an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter,” are illegal in all food for humans and animals.    Experts say animals that have been euthanized are picked up by renderers who process the carcasses which may be blended into pet food.    How disturbing is this?

It appears on the surface that using euthanized animals in dog food is not an isolated occurrence.    It seems the FDA hasn’t done anything about it nor do they seem to care.

For a full statement from the Smuckers company and more information about each brand, click here for Kibbles ‘N Bits and click here for Gravy Train.

Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and is an unabashed  animal advocate.   Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals.   She hosts the show,  ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.”    She adores her once-abused tripawd, Brody.   If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com.   Like https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows, articles,  and podcasts you may have missed!