Aflatoxin in corn-based kibble killed 110+ dogs in a single recall event

Midwestern Pet Foods' Sportmix kibble killed over 110 dogs and sickened 210+ in 2020-2021 because aflatoxin, a mold-produced carcinogen that thrives on drought-stressed corn, accumulated to lethal levels in their grain supply. Dogs are 4-6x more susceptible to aflatoxin than livestock, and because they eat the same food every meal, even moderately contaminated batches cause cumulative liver failure over weeks before symptoms appear. The problem persists because the FDA does not require pre-shipment aflatoxin testing of finished pet food, manufacturers self-certify ingredient quality from grain suppliers, and the 20 ppb action level was set decades ago without accounting for cumulative daily exposure in animals eating a single-source diet.