A Wheeling-based pet food-maker is voluntarily recalling some of its dog food over concerns that it might contain a sedative used to euthanize animals. Several dogs in Washington state became sick on New Year's Eve after eating the food, and one died, Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co. said.
The pug, named Talula, died after consuming Hunk of Beef dog food, according to Evanger's website. A subsequent toxicology report found the drug pentobarbital, a sedative, was found in the dog's stomach. The owner's three other pugs were sick after consuming the food, but survived.
Evanger's, a family-owned business, has severed its relationship with a beef supplier and promised to guarantee the safety of its products in the future.
After a social media firestorm, Evanger's corporate secretary Brett Sher and his twin sister Chelsea responded with a nearly five-minute apologetic video posted on the Evanger's website explaining what they think went wrong. They promised "transparency" as they continued to investigate and encouraged concerned customers to call them directly with questions or comments.
Brett and Chelsea Sher Evanger's Brett, left, and Chelsea Sher of Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co. posted a nearly five-minute video on the Evanger's website apologizing to customers and explaining why they decided to recall five lots of Hunk of Beef. Brett, left, and Chelsea Sher of Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co. posted a nearly five-minute video on the Evanger's website apologizing to customers and explaining why they decided to recall five lots of Hunk of Beef. (Evanger's)Evanger's also sent random samples of all of the beef used in Hunk of Beef to be tested for pentobarbitol contamination.
"We can't have bad products in the marketplace, that will come back and destroy us," said Brett Sher. "My own dog eats Hunk of Beef." The product, created 13 years ago, is essentially steak in a can for dogs — a chunk of lean beef that has been cooked and canned.
In the video, the Evanger's officials said that after further research, they learned that pentobarbital can be found in other dry pet foods if they are made with euthanized cow meat. Further, they said, once an animal has been euthanized, there are no regulations requiring veterinarians to tag the meat as such, allowing the meat to find its way into the animal-food chain.
The supplier likely didn't know that the euthanized beef was in its supply, according Joel Sher, vice president of Evanger's.
The company says it's aiming to use this experience to push for more oversight and regulation of how slaughtered animals make their way into the animal-food stream.
On its website, the company also shared a 1998 FDA study that found that 50 percent of the 90 pet food brands tested contained trace amounts of pentobarbital. "They knew about it, but there were no laws and regulations to stop that happening," Brett Sher said.
Picking the best pet food Danielle Braff, Special to Tribune Newspapers What to look for in the pet food aisle What to look for in the pet food aisle (Danielle Braff, Special to Tribune Newspapers)"We were unaware of the problem of pentobarbital in the pet food industry because it is most pervasive in dry foods that source most of their ingredients from rendering plants, unlike Evanger's, which mainly manufactures canned foods that would not have any rendered materials in its supply chain," Evanger's owners wrote on their website. "All of our raw materials are sourced from USDA-inspected facilities, and many of them are suppliers with whom we have had long-standing relationships."
Results from an independent lab found no contaminants in its Hunk of Beef product, Evanger's said. But further testing should indicate in the next week or two if traces of pentobarbital were in certain lots of the food.
The Shers said they paid veterinary bills for the pugs in Washington state and made a donation to a local animal shelter.
The incident highlights how pet owners increasingly are feeding pets as they feed themselves, with food that is fresh, often local and allergen-free, with few ingredients and no additives. It's lead to a stream of high-end pet food products such as Hunk of Beef, which retails for $3 to $4 per can — more costly than a can of beef stew meant for humans.
The market for fresh food for animals has grown in the past decade, according to Joel Sher, leading the company to produce products such as chicken thighs and chicken wings in a can to keep up with competitors who offer minimally processed kibble and straight-from-the-fridge pet food made from vegetables and meat.
"People want to treat their pets like family," Joel Sher said. "It's human nature, people want to feel their pet is human."
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said pentobarbitol had been found in the pet food. Testing has not yet been completed.
crshropshire@chicagotribune.com
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