Safety Report: Top of the Rockies Feeds Alfalfa Cubes - recalled due to Clostridium botulinum, USA

United States

Manzanola Feeds is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Animals experiencing these symptoms should receive immediate medical attention. The recalled product was distributed directly to the following states: AR, CO, IL, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK, TX, WI. Further distribution may be possible, so it is important to check if you have this product. There have been 45 horse deaths associated with this issue, to date.

Clostridium botulinum is an organism that can cause severe and potentially fatal toxicity in animals eating the contaminated food or coming into contact with contact areas that have been exposed to the product. Common symptoms may include dizziness, blurred or double vision, trouble with vocalizing or swallowing, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, abdominal distension, and constipation.

The recalled Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes are approximately 1 inch cubes, packaged in a 50 pound bag, and they are labeled with the following codes: 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522 and 111622. The code can be found on the front of the bag, towards the top of the bag. It is usually in the white portion of the bag, but can sometimes be found in the brown portion of the bag. The code represents the month, day and year the cubes were manufactured. These codes have been updated from our original post after our review of records.

If you have these date codes lots of alfalfa cubes, or you can’t be sure of date lot code of the products you have, do not feed them to your horses or any other animals. Throw them away in a secure container and place them in a covered trash can or dumpster so that no other animals can access them. Avoid handling the cubes directly and wear disposable gloves and a face mask while throwing the cubes away and cleaning any bins or containers where they were kept. Additionally, you should clean out all the empty bins or containers where the alfalfa cubes were kept by soaking them with a 1:10 dilution of household bleach for 15 to 20 minutes, followed by soap and water, then leave them to air dry. Dispose of the gloves and face mask in a secure trash receptacle. Wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the containers. If you think your horse has become ill after eating this food, call your veterinarian.

If you are experiencing symptoms after eating this product it is important to report it. It can help to detect & resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist seek medical attention.

Company name: Manzanola Feeds
Brand name: Top of the Rockies
Product recalled: Alfalfa Cubes
Reason of the recall: Potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum
FDA Recall date: December 16, 2022

Source: www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/manzanola-feeds-recalling-certain-lots-top-rockies-alfalfa-cubes-due-possible-clostridium-botulinum