Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy brand canned dog food is being removed from supermarket aisles in the wake of a Food and Drug Administration notice about the potential for pentobarbital contamination. The J.M. Smucker Company has initiated the withdrawal of certain canned dog food products due to the potential contamination. They are withdrawing all lots of these products that were manufactured from 2016 through the present. Pentobarbital is a barbiturate drug that is most commonly used in animals as a sedative, anesthetic, or for euthanasia. The FDA’s preliminary evaluation of samples indicates that the low level of pentobarbital present is unlikely to pose a health risk to pets. However, any detection of pentobarbital in pet food is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA is investigating the potential source and route of the contamination.
