Cargill’s animal nutrition business is recalling some Southern States feed because it contains aflatoxin levels that are above the FDA’s action levels. Aflatoxin is a fungus that grows on several agricultural products, including corn and tree nuts.

This toxin has “acute and chronic adverse effects and health consequences” for all species and all ages of animals. Acute aflatoxicosis can cause general hemorrhage, bloody diarrhea, and death in 1 to 3 days. Aflatoxin toxicity can also cause liver damage, jaundice, and eventually death.

No adverse health effects to animals have been reported to date in connection with this recall. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture tested the feed and found that a single lot of a specific Southern States product contained elevated levels of Aflatoxin. The recall notice states that Cargill has identified and corrected the root cause. The recalled products were manufactured at Cargill’s Cleveland, North Carolina facility.

You can see the long list of recalled products, along with the package size, lot code, product code, species, date made, and shelf life, at the FDA web site. They include Flock Balancer, Calf Developer, Sheep Feed Pellets, Custom Formula, Chick Start & Grow, Sweet Goat Feed, and Coarse Screened Cracked Corn, among others.

These products were sold at retail outlets in Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. They were removed from retail shelves throughout February, March, and April 2019. You can see pictures of the recalled product labels when you click the link in the FDA’s table in the recall notice.

If you purchased any of these recalled products, do not feed them to your animals. Return any remaining product in your possession to the local detail or retailer wher you purchased it for replacement or a refund.