{"topic_id":"US_petfood_aflatoxin_testing","category":"us_state","context":"Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) are toxic by-products of mold growth on certain agricultural commodities such as corn and peanut products — a core risk for corn-based pet foods. FDA's Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 683.100 'Action Levels for Aflatoxins in Animal Food' (CVM, March 2019) sets the action level for pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.) OF ALL AGES at 20 ppb total aflatoxins in corn, peanut products, cottonseed meal, other food ingredients and complete pet food; above it, FDA can support an FDCA §402(a)(1) adulteration charge. FDA first set a 20 ppb action level for all foods including animal food in 1969; livestock levels were later revised upward (300/200/100 ppb tiers for cattle, swine and poultry feeds) but pet food stayed at 20 ppb. CPG 683.100 records that in 1998, 2005, 2011 and 2013 aflatoxin contamination of dog and cat food caused illness, dog mortalities and extensive recalls. The 2005 episode was the Diamond Pet Foods recall (aflatoxin in dog food produced at its Gaston, South Carolina plant; FDA received reports of at least 76 dogs believed to have died, per AVMA JAVMA News 2006) — acute aflatoxicosis in dogs presents as LIVER injury (jaundice, coagulopathy, hepatic encephalopathy), not kidney failure as an earlier version of this topic stated. Compliance analytics: samples are analyzed per current AOAC Official Methods of Analysis and aflatoxin identity confirmed by chemical derivative formation before FDA takes regulatory action (CPG 683.100); the earlier claims of Illinois/Indiana state-level testing mandates triggered by the 2005 event could not be confirmed and were removed.\n","sources":["pdf-raw/fda_cpg_683_100_aflatoxins_animal_food.txt (FDA CPG Sec. 683.100, March 2019, fetched 2026-07-19)","AVMA JAVMA News 2006 (Diamond 2005 recall, Gaston SC, 76 dogs) via Tavily 2026-07-19"],"tokens_estimated":245,"generated_at":"2026-07-19","tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}