Pets at Home Recalls Food After Cats Collapse Due to Severe Thiamine Deficiency, AVA Varieties Affected

Pets at Home is recalling four lines of its AVA dry cat food products because there are lower levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1) present than specified in the recipe. Pets at Home, a company located in the United Kingdom, is recalling lots of their Indoor, Senior, Mature AVA dry cat food varieties due to the vitamin deficiency.

An investigation revealed that, in the four affected products (see below), the level of thiamine (Vitamin B1) was much lower than the company had specified. Testing confirmed only these four products are affected.

The company is aware that several cats which became seriously ill four to six weeks after switching to one of the affected products and required veterinary care. All of the cats exhibited symptoms of sudden collapse, fitting, widespread twitching and general unsteadiness which are not the classic symptoms of thiamine deficiency.

Product details

Product: AVA Veterinary Approved Grain Free Mature 7+ Cat Food Optimum Health

Pack size: 2kg

Product code (under the barcode): 7120400

Batch codes:

6165 – best before 14 June 2017

6181 – best before 30 June 2017

6295 – best before 22 October 2017

6363 – best before 29 December 2017

Product: AVA Veterinary Approved Grain Free Mature 7+ Cat Food Optimum Health

Pack size: 4kg

Product code (under the barcode): 712401

Batch codes:

6165 – best before 14 June 2017

6169 – best before 18 June 2017

6210 – best before 29 July 2017

6252 – best before 09 September 2017

6325 – best before 21 November 2017

7016 – best before 16 January 2018

Product: AVA Veterinary Approved Grain Free Senior 12+ Cat Food Optimum Health

Pack size: 2kg

Product code (under the barcode): 712402

Batch codes:

6161 – best before 10 June 2017

6166 – best before 15 June 2017

6229 – best before 17 August 2017

Product: AVA Veterinary Approved Grain Free Adult Cat Food Indoor/Neutured

Pack size: 1.5kg

Product code (under the barcode): 712407

Batch codes:

6165 – best before 14 June 2017

6166 – best before 15 June 2017

6188 – best before 07 July 2017

7006 – best before 6 January 2018

Risk

Thiamine deficiency in cats may impact a cat’s health. At least three cats have been identified which became seriously unwell after switching to one of the affected products and exhibited symptoms ranging from sudden collapse, fitting, widespread twitching and general unsteadiness which are not the classic symptoms of thiamine deficiency.

Advice to consumers

If you have bought any of the listed products with the specified product codes, please return it to where you bought it for a full refund or call 800 328 4204.

If you have concerns that your cat may be showing any of these symptoms after switching to one of the four affected products then you should stop feeding and seek immediate veterinary advice. You can also contact one of Pets At Home customer advisers on 800 328 4204 for general advice.

Action taken by the company

Pets At Home has recalled the above products. A notification has been sent to vets to be aware of the atypical symptoms and potential for thiamine deficiency. Point of sale notices have been placed in all affected stores and in store and information has been made available on the website. A notification has been published on Facebook and there has been direct correspondence with all known customers. All this information explains to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Please see the attached notice.

About product recalls and withdrawals

If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product). The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.

The products being recalled are: