Rawhide Dog Chews Recall Expands to Include More Brands

June 19, 2017 — United Pet Group, a division of Spectrum Brands, Inc., is voluntarily expanding its recall of multiple rawhide dog chew products to include private label brands.

The recall was initiated due to possible chemical contamination and includes the affected brands and products below.

Original Recalled Brands

United Pet Group previously initiated a voluntary recall of its branded products on 6/10/17.

Click here for the original June 10, 2017 recall article published by The Dog Food Advisor.

What Caused the Recall?

The recall was initiated after United Pet Group identified that certain of its rawhide chew manufacturing facilities located in Mexico and Colombia, as well as one of its suppliers in Brazil, were using a quaternary ammonium compound mixture as a processing aid in the manufacturing of rawhide chews.

The compound is an anti-microbial chemical that is approved for cleaning food processing equipment. But it has not been approved in the U.S. as a processing aid in the production of rawhide chews for dogs.

United Pet Group received very limited reports of pet illness based on the volume of possibly affected rawhide chew products manufactured and distributed.

The primary complaint received from consumers was that the affected product had an unpleasant odor. Diarrhea and vomiting were also reported.

Exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds through direct ingestion may cause the following symptoms in dogs: reduced appetite and gastric irritation, including diarrhea and vomiting.

These symptoms may require treatment by a veterinarian depending on severity.

According to the company:

We take our responsibility to pets and their owners seriously and we are continuing to investigate the cause of this problem.

We are implementing changes across the affected manufacturing facilities in order to prevent this problem from reoccurring in the future.

United Pet Group is also working with retailers to ensure that the affected products are no longer sold and removed from inventory.

Where Was It Sold?

The affected product was distributed nationwide from United Pet Group’s Edwardsville, Illinois distribution facility and was delivered to consumers through various retail establishments, including online outlets.

What Was Recalled?

All of the dog chew products included in the voluntary recall include an expiration date ranging from 06/01/2019 through 5/31/2020.

The expiration date can be located on the back of the package with the exception of the Enzadent and Dentahex products which are listed by UPC codes and specific expiration dates outlined below.

The private label products subject to the recall include:

Companion Brand

United Pet Group is recalling certain packages of dog chews with the Companion brand on the label.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide.

Only products with lot codes listed on the back of the package that start with AH, AV, A, AI, AO, or AB and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 are affected by this recall.

This includes all package sizes and/or weights.

The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

Distributed by FOODHOLD U.S.A., LLC LANDOVER, MD 20785 1-877-846-9946

Dentley’s

United Pet Group is recalling certain packages of dog chews with the Dentley’s brand on the label.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide.

Only products with lot codes listed on the back of the package that start with AH, AV, A, AI, AO, or AB and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 are affected by this recall.

This includes all package sizes and/or weights.

The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

Pacific Coast Distributing, Inc. 19601 N. 27th Ave. Phoenix, AZ USA 85027

Enzadent or Dentahex

United Pet Group is recalling certain packages of dog chews with the Enzadent/Dentahex brand on the label.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide.

Only products with the below listed UPC codes printed on the back of the package and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2021 through 05/31/2022 are affected by this recall.

The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

ENZADENT CHIPS MED 30 CT
17030030181

ENZADENT CHIPS PETITE 30 CT
17030030167

ENZADENT CHIPS SM 30 CT
17030030174

ENZADENT CHIPS LG 30 CT
17030030198

DENTAHEX CHIPS PETITE 30 CT
17030030228

DENTAHEX CHIPS SM 30 CT
17030030235

DENTAHEX CHIPS MED 30 CT
17030030242

DENTAHEX CHIPS LG 30 CT
17030030259

Manufactured for Vetoquinol USA Inc. Ft. Worth, TX USA 76137

Essential Everyday

United Pet Group is recalling certain packages of dog chews with the Essential Everyday brand on the label.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide.

Only products with lot codes listed on the back of the package that start with AH, AV, A, AI, AO, or AB and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 are affected by this recall.

This includes all package sizes and/or weights.

The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

Distributed by SUPERVALU INC. EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 55344 USA

Exer-Hides

United Pet Group is recalling certain packages of dog chews with the Exer-Hides brand on the label.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide.

Only products with lot codes listed on the back of the package that start with AH, AV, A, AI, AO, or AB and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 are affected by this recall.

This includes all package sizes and/or weights.

The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

Distributed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Bentonville, AR 72716

Good Lovin’ or Petco

United Pet Group is recalling certain packages of dog chews with the Good Lovin’ or Petco brand on the label.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide.

Only products with lot codes listed on the back of the package that start with AH, AV, A, AI, AO, or AB and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 are affected by this recall.

This includes all package sizes and/or weights.

The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

Distributed by: International Pet Supplies and Distribution, Inc. San Diego, CA 92121

Hill Country Fare

United Pet Group is recalling certain packages of dog chews with the Hill Country Fare brand on the label.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide.

Only products with lot codes listed on the back of the package that start with AH, AV, A, AI, AO, or AB and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 are affected by this recall.

This includes all package sizes and/or weights. The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

Distributed by H-E-B San Antonio, TX 78204

Priority Pet

United Pet Group is recalling certain packages of dog chews with the Priority brand on the label.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide.

Only products with lot codes listed on the back of the package that start with AH, AV, A, AI, AO, or AB and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 are affected by this recall.

This includes all package sizes and/or weights.

The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

Distributed by Lucerne North America LLC
P.O. Box 99
Pleasanton, CA 94566-0009
866-578-4395

What to Do?

Consumers who have purchased the products described above are urged to dispose of the product or return it directly to United Pet Group or to the retail establishment where they initially purchased the product for full refund.

If you have these products, please contact the United Pet Group consumer affairs team at 1-855-215-4962 between the hours of 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM Eastern Standard Time for a refund.

Consumers with questions may call the consumer affairs team at the number listed above.

For press inquiries, please contact Meg Rowley at 985-237-9786, Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

The expansion of this voluntary recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Canadians can report any health or safety incidents related to the use of this product by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.

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