Diamond Pet Foods recalls certain product lines

American manufacturer Diamond Pet Foods has put out a US-wide recall notice on five different cat food varieties and 14 dog food varieties from certain production batches. Following analysis by the company, corn shipments were found to contain significant amounts of highly poisonous aflatoxins, a natural by-product of the growth of a certain fungus. According to press reports, 17 pet deaths and 24 illnesses that may be linked to the food have been reported in the 22 American states affected by the recall. Possible effects and symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include liver damage, jaundice, vomiting, sluggishness, thirst and bloody diarrhoea. Aflatoxins are also believed to be carcinogenic. Information from the company is being updated on an ongoing basis at www.diamondpet.com.