Pet Food - Mold / Aflatoxin Poisoning

Aflatoxin comes from a fungus found on corn and other crops and can cause severe liver damage in pets. If your pet shows any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. — Sluggishness — Loss of appetite — Jaundice (yellow whites of the eyes, gums, belly) — Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea — Fever Source: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

In The News

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The FDA reports that at least 76 dogs nationwide are believed to have died as a result of eating contaminated Diamond Pet Foods. The company has recalled 19 varieties of dog and cat food because tests showed high levels of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxic chemical that comes from a fungus found on corn and other grains that causes severe liver damage in animals. The company recalled products manufactured at its Gaston, S.C., plant from around September to November 2005. Based on sample testing, Diamond has narrowed down the exposure to food produced on Oct. 11, Brinkmann said Thursday. The FDA and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture have launched investigations. Customers who have purchased the recalled Diamond Pet Food manufactured in the South Carolina plant should immediately stop using it and return any remaining product to their retailer, according to the FDA. The range of date codes being reviewed are "Best By 01-March-07" through Best By " 11-June-07". FDA also has discovered that some of the recalled product was exported to at least 29 countries, including countries within the European Union. These countries have been notified. Diamond officials say they are doing what they can to help affected pet owners. Diamond has promised to reimburse pet owners for vet bills and other costs associated with the aflatoxin poisoning, which officials now believe may include pets in Europe and other areas outside the country where the food is distributed.

Personal Note

I am considered an animal lover. I have worked with the MSPCA for years as a foster parent and have adopted several dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, pig and birds over the years. One quest is to find the best quality food possible. I had one dog that suffered from skin allergies. Most of the vets think it is diet related. So far, after 3 years and a dozen different brands of "high quality" and "organic" food, we have not been able to help him. Is this a reflection of the overall quality of dog food? Was it mold related due to chronic ear infection when he was a puppy?

I guarantee your pets will live longer and healthier if you feed them human grade food. Would you feed your child pet food?

Mycotoxic (Fungus) Moldy Foods - Top 10 List

This post is directed towards food concerns as related to mold. Mold is in our air, it plays a beneficial role in our ecosystem. We need mold, but do we need it in our food? Let this sink in - We cannot always control if we have mycotoxins in our food, we can control what foods we eat. If you think mold may be contributing to your health related issues, it's time to start thinking about your diet. Consuming any mycotoxin is never a good idea, so a diet consisting of foods with a higher probability of containing mycotoxins would not be considered wise. You are what you eat, never forget it! Now to get a bit more clinical. Definition of Mycotoxic - Pertaining to or emanating from a mycotoxin. Definition of Mycotoxin - Mycotoxin (from the Greek word (mykes) "fungus") Definition of Toxin - From the Greek word toxikon, lit. (poison) is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms. Mycotoxins cause a wide range of health problems in humans when we ar

Multiple Sclerosis: Chronic Mycotoxicosis Mold?

As time goes on and the study of mycology advances we are seeing more and more evidence of "mold" related afflictions. We see humans, animals and insects all suffer from the diabolical nature of "mold". Given my vocation, I often wonder on how my 20+ years of exposure to mold with affect my future health. You are what you eat. Treat your body well, give it clean vibrant foods as often as you can. Stop drinking alcohol and eating processed foods and foods with sugar. MS Definition (as defined by the national ms society) - Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an immune-mediated process in which an abnormal response of the body’s immune system is directed against the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. So, does the definition of MS coincide with the scientific research involving mycotoxins? "Future research should be directed at treating the disease as if it were caused by fungi and their devastating myco

Mold Testing - DIY Petri Method - Pro-Lab - Inaccurate?

We often receive calls and emails requesting mold testing services. We also are asked if the home tests are any good. Well, it really depends on how accurate of a test/results want. The Truth I can guarantee if you use a petri dish style spore capturing device and you send it to a lab, you will get results. The results will always show you have mold. Of course you have mold, mold spores are everywhere. You can put the petri dish anywhere and get results. They just won't be accurate results. On their website you will see fanfare and dropping corporate names as a way to bolster their product. In essence they might as well be selling tests for oxygen. Simply put they rely on the ignorance of the general public to sell their product. I can state with clarity, the results are not accurate nor indicative of the actual mold situation in your home. From an industry standard they would never be used to clear a project, post remediation. Which means their accuracy is poor. Why are they

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