FDA Warns Dog Food Maker Due to Safety Violations – Multiple Brands

Important — This Is Not a Recall

May 15, 2022 — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Warning Letter to Sunshine Mills, Inc., of Red Bay, Alabama due to significant safety violations. The letter was originally issued to the company on March 7, 2022, but was not made public by the FDA until April 18, 2022.

Sunshine Mills produces multiple brands of dog food and treats. However, the FDA did not include a complete list of products affected by its warning letter.

What Caused the Warning?

FDA inspections were performed on various dates in 2021 and revealed violations of the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements for animal food, which caused the maker’s products to be adulterated.

Sunshine Mills Brands

The following brands are produced by Sunshine Mills. Due to the incomplete nature of the FDA’s report, there’s no way to know which brands are linked to this FDA warning.

• Evolve
• Nurture Farms
• Triumph
• Veterinary Select
• Paula Deen Home Cookin’
• Meaty Treats
• Sportsman’s Pride
• Hunter’s Special
• Pup Corn Plus
• Pet Life
• Crunchin’ Bones
• Dr. Dental Fresh Chews

Other Brands Affected

Other products may also be affected. That’s because Sunshine Mills “co-packs” food and treat products for a number of other (unspecified) brands.

However, since pet food makers are not required to disclose sub-contractor information to consumers, there’s no way to know what other brands may be affected.

Sunshine Mills Recall History

The following list includes all dog food recalls related to Sunshine Mills through May 15, 2022.

• Six Dog Food Brands Recalled Due to Dangerous Mold Toxin (7/29/2021)
• Sunshine Mills Recalls Multiple Dog Food Brands (6/3/2021)
• 15 Pet Food Brands Recalled Due to High Levels of Aflatoxin (10/9/2020)
• Sunshine Mills Recalls Multiple Dog Food Brands Due to Aflatoxin (9/3/2020)
• Sunshine Mills Recalls Nature’s Menu Dog Food (8/25/2020)
• Dangerous Levels of Vitamin D Discovered in Several Dog Food Brands (12/7/2018)
• Evolve, Sportsman’s Pride, and Triumph Dog Food Recall (11/28/2018)
• Giant and Martin’s Recall Nature’s Promise Dog Food (11/21/2018)

Partial List of
Inspection Findings

FDA Investigators noted evidence of significant violations of its Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements. A partial sampling of the inspector’s findings includes:

“…your firm’s laboratory tested a sample of finished dog food kibble, Evolve Chicken and Rice Dog Formula… and detected an elevated aflatoxin level of 32.7 ppb. This is an indication that you failed to implement your ingredient testing preventive control, resulting in the use of an ingredient containing elevated levels of aflatoxin.”

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“…you failed to follow the manufacturer’s mycotoxin test kit instructions, as well as your firm’s SOPs… regarding sample preparation for incoming grain analysis.”

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“You failed to maintain animal food contact surfaces to protect animal food from being contaminated…”

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“You failed to keep your plant clean and in good repair to prevent animal food from becoming adulterated…”

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Full FDA Warning Letter

The warning letter continues by documenting additional violations.

View the full FDA Warning Letter here.

Reporting Pet Food Problems

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

Or go to the FDA’s “Report a Pet Food Complaint” page.

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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