Pet food sold in California and several other states has been recalled due to the presence of a sedative used in euthanasia.

Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company is a major supplier of natural pet food in the U.S. The company recently had to issue a recall of 12-ounce cans of Hunk of Beef dog food after several dogs got sick and one dog died. The sick dogs reportedly suffered from drowsiness, dizziness, loss of balance, and nausea.

During an investigation into the dog illness reports, Evanger’s tested batches of dog food and learned that at least some cans contained pentobarbital. Pentobarbital is a sedative used for euthanasia in humans. When taken in high doses, pentobarbital can be fatal.

Evanger’s issued a statement on its website to indicate that the company would be utilizing a new beef supplier in light of the recent dog food contamination problems. The company statement added that investigators were still trying to determine “how it could even be possible that an animal that had been euthanized could ever possibly end up in the animal food stream.”

The recalled dog food cans were sold and distributed in retail stores located in 15 states, including California, Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The dog food was also sold over the Internet. The recall affects dog food sold in stores and online between June 6 and June 13, 2016.

The dog food recall is being issued voluntarily by Evanger’s, but it seems likely that federal safety officials would have ordered the recall at some point – especially given the potentially deadly ingredients. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently helping the company with the recall.

If you were injured as a result of using a defective product, or if you became ill due to consumption of contaminated food, you need to speak with a qualified personal injury and product liability lawyer immediately. At The Paris Firm, we can help. Contact The Paris Firm now to schedule a free initial consultation.