More Dog Food Sold in Illinois Recalled For Euthanasia Drug Contamination

WHEELING, IL — An Illinois-based dog food company has widened a recall after reports that several varieties of pet food may be contaminated with pentobarbital, a drug used to anesthetize or euthanize animals.

Wheeling-based Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food — which a month ago recalled some of its Hunk of Beef Au Jus dog food due to possible pentobarbital contamination — has expanded its voluntary recall. As a precaution, the company is also recalling Evanger’s Braised Beef and Against the Grain’s Pulled Beef products due to potential contamination with pentobarbital, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

While Against the Grain is a separate company, it is owned by the same Wheeling family. Twins Chelsea and Brett Sher launched Against the Graint in 2012, while Evanger's is owned by parents Holly and Joel Sher.

» Illinois Company Sold Dog Food Tainted With Euthanasia Drug: FDA

The recall affects 12 oz. cans of dog food with the following bar codes. The numbers listed below are the second half of the barcode, which can be found on the back of the product label:

• Evanger’s: Hunk of Beef: 20109
• Evanger’s: Braised Beef: 20107
• Against the Grain: Pulled Beef: 80001

The three products being voluntarily recalled were manufactured between December 2015 and January 2017, and have expiration dates of December 2019 through January 2021. These products were distributed online and through independent boutique pet stores nationwide.

The voluntary recall affects only Hand Packed Beef Products, produced using a unique method in which large chunks of meat are manually placed into the can by hand, not machine.

The recalled food was found in a lot sold in 15 states, including Illinois. According to Evanger's, five dogs in a single household reportedly became ill after eating some of the recalled Hunk of Beef in January, and one dog died.

Pentobarbital can affect animals that eat it, and possibly cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner, inability to stand, coma and even death. Consumers who notice these symptoms in their pets should consult their veterinarian.

Affected products in the original recall were sold in retail stores and online from June 6-13, 2016, according to a notice on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. The states where the product was in stores are: Washington, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

The drug was found in a single lot that is no longer being sold but customers may still have cans of the food, Evanger’s said. The company is recalling five lots of the dog food “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the recall notice.

Affected lot numbers in the February recall 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. The potentially affected dog food was sold in 12-ounce cans.

Evanger’s said suppliers of its meat products are USDA-approved, and beef chunks come from cows that are slaughtered at a USDA facility.“We continue to investigate how this substance entered our raw material supply,” the company said.

Evanger’s said the recall is the first 82 years of manufacturing.

Anyone who has some of the recalled food should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Questions may be directed to the company at (847) 537-0102 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday.

By Deb Belt (Patch Staff)/Shannon Antinori (Patch Staff) contributed

»Photo via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.