Recall: Evanger’s and Against the Grain Products

Listen to this article

The following was posted on the FDA’s website and confirmed by Pet Age with Holly Sher, owner and president of Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company, through her public relations representative.

Out of an abundance of caution, Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food is voluntarily expanding its recall of Hunk of Beef and is also recalling Evanger’s Braised Beef and Against the Grain’s Pulled Beef Products due to potential adulteration with pentobarbital. Oral exposure to pentobarbital can cause drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner), inability to stand, coma and death. Consumers who notice these symptoms in their pets should consult their veterinarian.

Evanger’s wants 100 percent of its products to be 100 percent safe 100 percent of the time prompting removal of the products.

“This recall is not based upon any test results or pet illnesses, but because we lost trust in our former supplier. Because we want to be 100 percent confident in our products, we voluntarily expanded the recall,” Sher said in an email to Pet Age from her public relations representative.

The 12-ounce cans of dog foods that are being voluntarily recalled have the following barcodes. 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.

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

“We are voluntarily recalling these products where this same (and former) supplier’s meats may have been used,” the email to Pet Age said.

Consumers may return any can of the aforementioned products to their place of purchase for a full refund for the inconvenience. For any questions, customers may contact the company at 1-847-537-0102 between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday – Friday.

According to the FDA’s site, “on February 20, 2017, Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food notified the FDA that it planned to recall all “chunk beef” products under the Evanger’s and Against the Grain brands. On February 27, 2017, the FDA became aware that Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food was notifying its distributors and retailers of a new recall for lots of Evanger’s Braised Beef Chunks with Gravy as well as expanding the previous recall for additional lots of Evanger’s canned Hunk of Beef and Against the Grain’s Grain Free Pulled Beef with Gravy.”

In all, the FDA says it has “received 10 complaints for Evanger’s products with five complaints that are suggestive of pentobarbital poisoning. These complaints relate to the Hunk of Beef product primarily, although one complaint also describes feeding an additional product, Evanger’s Braised Beef Chunks in Gravy for Dogs. FDA is following up on four complaints based on available product and veterinary medical records to obtain further information. The agency has not received similar complaints related to the suspect lots of Against the Grain Grain Free Pulled Beef with Gravy canned dog food.”

“In spite of this voluntary, expanded recall, our entire Evanger’s family remains very optimistic for our strong future and serving our customers to the very best of our abilities,” Sher said through her public relations representative. “We are strong, and are working hard getting ready for Global Pet Expo where we welcome the chance to connect openly with our incredible customers, friends and industry partners.”

Videos of Sher discussing the recall can be viewed here and here.