RECALL: Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Recalls Hunk of Beef Product

Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company, based in Wheeling, Illinois, is recalling five lots of its Hunk of Beef product due to potential contamination with pentobarbital.

When ingested, pentobarbital can cause side effects in animals that include drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea and, in extreme cases, death.

Even though the contaminant was found in only one lot of Hunk of Beef Au Jus, several specifically identified lot numbers of 12-ounce cans of Hunk of Beef are being recalled voluntarily.

These products were distributed to retail locations and sold online in Washington, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Lot numbers that start with 1816E03HB, 1816E04HB, 1816E06HB, 1816E07HB, and 1816E13HB, with an expiration date of June 2020, are being recalled. The second half of the barcode reads 20109, which can be found on the back of the product label.

Recalled products were manufactured during the week of June 6, 2016.

The recall was initiated when 5 dogs from one household reportedly became ill after consuming the product with lot number 1816E06HB13; one of the dogs died. No other reports of illness related to Evanger’s products have been made.

All Evanger’s products are USDA approved and are sourced from suppliers of meat products that are USDA approved. This is the first recall for Evanger’s in its 82 years of manufacturing.

Pet owners in possession of cans with these specific lot numbers should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Representatives for Evanger’s are available by phone (847-537-0102) between 10 am and 5 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday to answer questions about the recall.

Evanger’s is currently investigating how the contaminated substance entered its raw material supply.