Southern States Animal Feeds Produced in NC Recalled for Contamination

On May 6, 2019, Cargill’s animal nutrition business announced that it is conducting a voluntary recall of select Southern States® feed due to aflatoxin levels that exceed FDA’s action levels. The affected products, which were manufactured and sold in the eastern United States, were removed from retail shelves throughout February, March, and April 2019.

Livestock, horses, and poultry exposed to aflatoxin are at risk of exposure to several health hazards.

Aflatoxicosis has the same acute and chronic adverse effects and health consequences across all species and age classes (immature and mature). Immature animals are more sensitive to aflatoxins.  Acute aflatoxicosis may result in generalized hemorrhage, bloody diarrhea and death in 1-3 days.  In addition, aflatoxin toxicity can cause reduced feed intake, reduced weight gain, liver damage, jaundice, and eventually death.

No adverse health effects to animals have been reported to date. Nonetheless, Cargill is taking this voluntary step out of an abundance of caution.

The affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s Cleveland, North Carolina, facility. Cargill first learned of the issue when it received a notification from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture of test results showing that a single lot of a specific Southern States product contained elevated levels of aflatoxin. Cargill has identified and corrected the root cause.

The following affected products were recalled from retail outlets and distributors in the Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia markets and removed from retail shelves throughout February, March, and April 2019.

 

Product Size Lot Code Product Code Species Date Made Shelf Life
Southern States Traditions 2-Grain Scratch (CN) 50 lb N8313 523540 Poultry Nov 2018 90 days
Southern States Flock Balancer 20% Booster (CN) 50 lb N8352 525430 Poultry Dec 2018 90 days
Southern States Calf Developer Plus (DEC) (CN) 50 lb N8354 511810 Dairy Cattle Dec 2018 60 days
Southern States Sheep Feed Pellets (CN) 50 lb N9035 572610 Sheep Feb 2019 90 days
Southern States Sporting Bird Flight Developer (BMD) (CN) 50 lb N9035 523630 Poultry Feb 2019 90 days
Southern States Genetic Expression 14% Jump Start (BVT) (CN) 50 lb N9035 573760 Beef Cattle Feb 2019 90 days
Southern States Custom Formula 2 tons (all purchased by a single customer) N9037 Poultry Feb 2019 30 days
Southern States Traditions Chick Start & Grow (AMP) (CN) 50 lb N9039 523600 Poultry Feb 2019 90 days
Southern States Custom Formula 23 tons (all purchased by a single customer) N9039 Dairy Cattle Feb 2019 30 days
Southern States 16% Sweet Goat Feed (CN) 50 lb N9043 571800 Goat Feb 2019 60 days
Southern States Triple 10 (CN) 50 lb N9043 554270 Equine Feb 2019 60 days
Southern States Coarse Screened Cracked Corn (CN) 50 lb N9045 591180 All Stock Feb 2019 90 days
Southern States Intensity 22% Calf Starter (BVT/CF) (CN) 50 lb N9045 511961 Dairy Cattle Feb 2019 60 days
Southern States All Grain Start-N-Grow (CN) 25 lb N9053 523500 Poultry Feb 2019 90 days

 

Customers and other end users who have any of the affected lots in their possession should return remaining product to their local dealer or retailer for a replacement or full refund. For more information, call 800.822.1012 Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm Eastern Time.

This recall is being conducted with knowledge of and in cooperation with the United States Food and Drug Administration.

See the company’s official announcement here.

To find out more about aflatoxin and the relation to fungi, read www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5382086.

 

Ed. Note: While the recall information posted by the US Food and Drug Administration mentions the potential for chemical or metal contamination, no details regarding the potential metal contamination are outlined in the recall.

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