Cat Food Recall: Is Your Pet at Risk of Deadly Thiamine Deficiency?

Posted on December 4, 2009 in Animals, Consumer Goods, Recalls

Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food has been recalled because the pet food may result in thiamine deficiency, a potentially deadly condition for cats.

There have been 21 reports of thiamine deficiency in cats in New York and Pennsylvania, officials said. Testing of samples of the products confirmed the food is low in thiamine, a B vitamin that is necessary for healthy cats.

Symptoms of the disorder commonly begin with decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss, the FDA said. If the condition is not properly treated, serous neurologic signs can develop, including ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures.

The recall announced this week by the Food and Drug Administration and Diamond Pet Foods affects specific date codes of cat food distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

The following date codes of packages of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food are included in the recall:

• RAF0501A22X 18lb. (BB28NOV10)

• RAF0501A2X 6 lb. (BB28NOV10)

• RAF0802B12X 18lb (BB30FEB11)

• RAH0501A22X 18 lb. (BB28NOV10)

• RAH0501A2X 6lb. (BB28NOV10, BB30NOV10, BB08DEC10)

Consumers who have purchased the affected lots are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, the FDA said.