Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Kaytee Wild Bird Food Birders’ Blend recall: Potential Elevated Levels of Aflatoxin

Recall published 3+ years ago

Potential Elevated Levels of Aflatoxin

Kaytee Pet food & treats — recalled pet food & treats
Photo published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Food safety concern

The notice above sets out the specific concern. Whatever the cause, the practical answer with food is the same: stop eating it and claim the refund.

What the notice says: Potential Elevated Levels of Aflatoxin

Why it matters: The agency identified a problem with this product that made it unsafe or unfit to sell. The official summary above describes what it was.

Recall details

Published
March 18, 2023
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Kaytee
Product type
Pet food & treats
Distribution
Alabama, Florida, Georgia
Sold at
Ace Hardware
UPC codes
071859027111
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported in association with this product to date and no other Kaytee products are affected.

Products covered by this recall

Wild Bird Food Birders’ Blend

What the company announced

CHILTON, WI – March 18, 2023 – Kaytee Products Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Kaytee® Wild Bird Food Birders’ Blend, 8 lb. bag, UPC 0 71859 02711 1, Lot Number PennPak1 102022 933, best buy date of 041224, due to potentially elevated levels of Aflatoxin above the acceptable limit. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to wild birds if consumed in significant quantities. No illnesses have been reported in association with this product to date and no other Kaytee products are affected.

On March 13, 2023, the Georgia Department of Agriculture notified Kaytee Products Inc. that after conducting a routine laboratory analysis of the product, Lot PennPak1 102022 933 located on the bottom right corner of the front of the 8 lb. bags of Kaytee® Wild Bird Food Birder’s Blend was found to contain elevated levels of Aflatoxin.

The products affected by this announcement are:

  • Product: Kaytee® Wild Bird Food Birders’ Blend · Size: 8 lb · UPC: 0 71859 02711 1 · Lot No.: PennPak1 102022 933 · Best by: 041224

Please see attached photos to accurately identify the product.

The affected wild bird product was packaged in clear plastic bags and shipped to ACE Hardware Distribution Centers in AL, FL, and GA, which service neighborhood hardware stores in the Southeastern United States. Retailers who received the affected wild bird product have been contacted and asked to pull them from their inventory and shelves.

No adverse health effects have been reported with respect to the affected wild bird product at this time. However, Kaytee Products Inc. has chosen to issue a voluntary recall of this product in furtherance of its commitment to the quality and safety of its products.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled wild bird product should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Kaytee Customer Service:

1-800-KAYTEE1 (1-800-529-8331), Monday through Friday, 6:00 am – 4:00 pm CST.

This is a voluntary recall being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 4 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 071859027111

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • PennPak1 102022 933

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 041224

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 8 lb

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Food safety

Kaytee — The notice above sets out the specific concern. Whatever the cause, the practical answer with food is the same: stop eating it and claim the refund.

  1. Stop eating it and check the codes on your pack against the identifiers listed on this page.
  2. Check the freezer and pantry for other packs from the same codes.
  3. If anyone is unwell after eating it, call a clinician and mention the recall by name.
  4. Bag it and bin it, or return it to the store for a refund.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased the recalled wild bird product should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Kaytee Products Inc. — Consumers: Kaytee Customer Service, 1-800-KAYTEE1 (1-800-529-8331) — Media: Liz Nunan, (925) 878-9465, [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Kaytee pet food & treats recalled?

Potential Elevated Levels of Aflatoxin Potential Elevated Levels of Aflatoxin

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 071859027111; lot code PennPak1 102022 933; best-by date 041224. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it and check the codes on your pack against the identifiers listed on this page.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased the recalled wild bird product should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Alabama, Florida, Georgia.

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