Bad Dog Foods being pulled

Dog foods pulled from shelves nationwide after ABC7 investigation finds euthanasia drug

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Retailers pulled at least 31 varieties of dog food off the shelves nationwide after a months-long investigation found the euthanasia drug, pentobarbital.

After releasing the results of lab tests that identified the drug, the FDA launched an investigation. And now, just days later, Smucker’s, the owner of almost all the brands in question, announcing a voluntary withdrawal. It includes products in the Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Skippy and Ol’ Roy lines of canned food.

Retailers, including the nation's largest, Walmart, removed it from all 4,700 stores.

For seven months, we investigated what's in dog food. Analytical labs conducted hundreds of tests across dozens of brands.

"Consumers, they're tired of their pets dying. They're tired of being worried and this needs to change," said Susan Thixton, who’s been researching and writing about the pet food industry for years.

Thixton says based on current labeling standards, it's impossible for consumers to know what they're really feeding their pets.

“They have no information,” said Thixton. “A consumer has to become a private detective to learn what's really in their food."

Among our tests were 15 cans of Gravy Train, made by Big Heart Brands, owned by Smucker’s.

Nine cans, 60 percent of the sample, repeatedly tested positive for the euthanasia drug, pentobarbital.

And while the levels detected were not lethal, under federal law it is not permitted at any level, and never allowed to be used on animals intended for food.

"Where did it come from?” asked Dr Nicholas Dodman, veterinarian and former Director of the Tufts University Animal Behavior Program. “If they don't like the explanation that it's coming from animals that have been euthanized, what is their explanation as to how it gets in there?"

Smucker’s posted on its website that it does not use pets in its food.

The company would not answer any of the questions we provided to them, including how is pentobarbital getting into their supply chain?

In our tests, only Gravy Train came back positive for pentobarbital. Smuckers has not explained why it has expanded the number of brands being pulled from shelves, but it’s possible that the brands share a supplier.

We also asked Smucker’s about that today, but did not receive a response.

The following products should not be fed to pets, but returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The way to identify product is to look at the product name/description and UPC codes below:


Item Name UPC Item Code(s)

Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with T-Bone Flavor Chunks 7910052541 Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Strips 7910052542 Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Lamb and Rice Chunks 7910052543 Gravy Train 22 oz. with Chicken Chunks 7910051645 Gravy Train 22 oz. with Beef Chunks 7910051647 Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Chunks 7910034417 Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Chicken Chunks 7910034418 Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy Stew 7910051933 Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chicken, Beef & Liver Medley 7910051934 Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks 7910034417
Kibbles ‘
N Bits 13.2 oz. Burger Bacon Cheese and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Variety 12-Pack 7910010377 7910010378
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken,
Vegetable, Meatball Pasta and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Var. Pack 7910010382 7910048367 7910010378
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken,
Vegetable, Burger Bacon Cheese and Beef Vegetable Variety Pack 7910010380 7910010377 7910010375
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Wet Variety Pack
7910010375 7910048367
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Wet Variety Pack
7910010375 7910048367
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Chef’s Choice Bistro
Tender Cuts with Real Beef & Vegetable in Gravy 7910010375
Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Chef’s Choice Bistro
Tender Cuts with Real Beef & Vegetable in Gravy 7910010375
Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender
Cuts with Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetable in Gravy 7910010378
Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender
Cuts with Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetable in Gravy 7910010378
Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Homestyle
Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy 7910010380
Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Homestyle
Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy 7910010380 Skippy 13.2 oz. Premium Select Cuts in Gravy with Beef & Bone Marrow 7910071860