Evanger’s Dog Food Recall of February 2017

February 3, 2017 — Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company, Inc. of Wheeling, Illinois, is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Hunk of Beef product due to potential contamination with the deadly drug, pentobarbital.

Pentobarbital can affect animals that ingest it, and possibly cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance or nausea — or in extreme cases, death.

What’s Being Recalled?

Although pentobarbital was detected in a single lot, the company is recalling all related Hunk of Beef products manufactured the week of June 6 through June 13, 2016.

The affected lots numbers that start with 1816E03HB, 1816E04HB, 1816E06HB, 1816E07HB, and 1816E13HB, and have an expiration date of June 2020.

The second half of the barcode reads 20109, which can be found on the back of the product label.

Where Was the Product Sold?

The affected products were sold both online and also distributed to retail locations only in the following states:

• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Washington
• Wisconsin

About the Recall

The recall affects 5 lots of food that were produced from its supplier’s lot of beef, which is specifically used for the Hunk of Beef product and no other products.

To date, five dogs reportedly became ill. And one of the five dogs died after consuming the product with lot number 1816E06HB13.

Evanger’s is proactively issuing a recall so as not to risk potential exposure to pentobarbital in the product.

According to Evanger’s, all suppliers of meat products are USDA approved.

The insists the beef supplier provides the company with beef chunks from cows that are slaughtered in a USDA facility.

Evanger’s continues to investigate how the contaminant entered its raw material supply.

Because it sources its meat products from suppliers that are USDA approved and since no other products have reported any problems, the company is not extending the recall to other supplier lots.

According to Evanger’s, this is the first recall event for the company in its 82 years of manufacturing.

What to Do?

Although it has been verified that little or no product remains on store shelves, consumers are asked to return recalled product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 847-537-0102 between 10 AM and 5 PM Central Time,
Monday through Friday.

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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