Cat Food Recall: Thiamine Deficiency Could be Fatal to Animals, FDA Warns

Diamond Pet Foods has issued a voluntary recall for its Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food because the products may result in thiamine deficiency, a potentially deadly condition for cats.

The Food and Drug Administration today released additional details of the recall, which was first announced in September.

The recall affects only certain 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 FDA said.

The following date codes are included in the recall: RAF0501A22X 18lb. (BB28NOV10), RAF0501A2X 6 lb. (BB28NOV10), RAF0802B12X 18lb (BB30FEB11), RAH0501A22X 18 lb. (BB28NOV10), RAH0501A2X 6lb. (BB28NOV10, BB30NOV10, BB08DEC10).

Reports of Thiamine Deficiency

So far, the company has received reports of 21 cases of thiamine deficiency in cats in New York and Pennsylvania, officials said. Testing of samples of the recalled cat food found they were deficient in thiamine, officials said.

Thiamine is a B vitamin that is necessary for healthy cats. Symptoms of thiamine deficiency 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.

Thiamine deficiency can ultimately lead to death of the animal if left untreated. Consumers who have fed the recalled food to their cat that has shown the symptoms listed above symptoms are advised to contact a veterinarian.

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

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