Recall: United Pet Group Voluntarily Recalling Multiple Brands of Packages of Rawhide Dog Chews

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The following was posted on the FDA’s website on June 10 and confirmed by Pet Age through the United Pet Group Recall Hotline:

United Pet Group, a division of Spectrum Brands, Inc. is voluntarily recalling multiple brands of packages of rawhide dog chew products that were distributed to retail outlets and sold online in the U.S. The recall involves the brands and products described below.

The recall was initiated after United Pet Group identified that certain of its rawhide chew manufacturing facilities located in Mexico and Colombia, as well as one of its suppliers in Brazil, were using a quaternary ammonium compound mixture as a processing aid in the manufacturing of rawhide chews. The compound is an anti-microbial chemical that is approved for cleaning food processing equipment, but it has not been approved in the U.S. as a processing aid in the production of rawhide chews for dogs.

United Pet Group received very limited reports of pet illness based on the volume of possibly affected rawhide chew products manufactured and distributed. The primary complaint received from consumers was that the affected product had an unpleasant odor. Diarrhea and vomiting were also reported.

Exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds through direct ingestion may cause the following symptoms in dogs: reduced appetite and gastric irritation including diarrhea and vomiting. These symptoms may require treatment by a veterinarian depending on severity.

The affected product was distributed nationwide from United Pet Group’s Edwardsville, Illinois, distribution facility and was delivered to consumers through various retail establishments including online outlets. All of the dog chew products included in the voluntary recall identify an expiration date ranging from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 located on the back of the package.

This recall is limited to dog chew products that contain rawhide. Only products with lot codes listed on the back of the package that start with AH, AV, A, AI, AO, or AB and which list expiration dates from 06/01/2019 through 05/31/2020 are affected by this recall. This includes all package sizes and/or weights. The following contact information appears on the back of the package of the affected products:

United Pet Group, a Division of Spectrum Brands, Inc. 3001 Commerce St. Blacksburg, Virginia, 24060 1-800-645-5154 Consumers who have purchased the products described above are urged to dispose of the product or return it directly to United Pet Group or to the retail establishment where they initially purchased the product for full refund. Please see brand logos [above] which will assist in identifying affected products.

We take our responsibility to pets and their owners seriously and we are continuing to investigate the cause of this problem. We are implementing changes across the affected manufacturing facilities in order to prevent this problem from reoccurring in the future. United Pet Group is also working with retailers to ensure that the affected products are no longer sold and removed from inventory.

If you have these products, please contact the United Pet Group consumer affairs team at 1-855-215-4962 between the hours of 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time for a refund.

Consumers with questions may call the consumer affairs team at the number listed above.

For press inquiries, please contact Meg Rowley at 985-237-9786, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

This voluntary recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

The following is a statement from Spectrum Brands about the recall sent to Pet Age through a Spectrum spokesperson:

On June 10, 2017, Spectrum Brands under the United Pet Group division voluntarily recalled several of its rawhide chew products for dogs due to possible chemical contamination. The chemical compound is a cleaning agent that is approved for cleaning/sanitizing food processing equipment, but not as a processing aid in the production of rawhide treats. The products recalled include American Beefhide, Digest-eeze, Good N’ Fun, and Healthy Hide.

Spectrum Brands is operating this voluntary recall under the full cooperation of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We have notified all necessary parties, and retailers that have received these products have been informed to immediately discard or return items due to possible chemical contamination. We have currently received very limited reports of pet illness based on the volume of possibly affected rawhide chew products manufactured and distributed. The primary complaint received from consumers has been that the affected product had an unpleasant odor. Diarrhea and vomiting were also reported. We have taken all necessary additional steps to ensure future product safety.

We take this matter very seriously. Quality is the foremost concern of our company, and the goal of this voluntary recall is to maintain the safe consumption of our products. If you have any questions regarding the recall, contaminated products, or product return procedures please visit our website.