Products included in the recall contain a capital “G” in the 11th or 12th position of the date codes, as well as date codes from “01-March-07” through “10-March-07.” A detailed list of affected brands is posted on the company’s Web site (www.diamondpet.com).

States affected by the recall are Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont and Virginia.

”Our highest priority right now is the health and well-being of our customers’ pets,” said Mark Brinkmann, general manager of Diamond Pet Foods. “We are committed to keeping our customers informed and are taking aggressive steps to resolve this issue. We’re proud of our long history of producing high quality and safe products and deeply regret that this situation has occurred.”

Brinkmann said customers who purchased recalled products should discontinue use immediately and return the pet food to their retailer for a complete refund.

He said that the recall does not include products distributed in other states by Diamond Pet Foods facilities in Meta, Mo. and Lathrop, Calif.

Aflatoxin is a toxic chemical byproduct from the growth of the fungus Aspergillus flavus on corn and other crops often used as ingredients in pet foods.

Brinkmann urged pet owners who suspect their pet may have ingested aflatoxin to consult their veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms include jaundice, lack of appetite, depression, bloody stools and excessive bleeding. Veterinarians may run chemical and clotting profiles as part of the diagnostic protocol.

For more information, contact Diamond Pet Foods at (573) 229-4203. [February 2006 PET AGE]