Deer feed pulled from Rural King shelves
May 1, 2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The wildlife feed Deer Corn has been pulled from Rural King store shelves in seven states because some bags showed contamination from aflatoxins.
The product was first collected and analyzed in Indiana by the Office of Indiana State Chemist, based at Purdue University, following a customer request for information.
The tested samples indicated that the corn was not suitable as a feed for wildlife and could potentially be harmful to humans exposed to the aflotoxin dust. Animals that consume high levels of aflatoxins could die. Aflatoxins, substances produced by molds that grow on grain, also are a potential human carcinogen.
Robert L. Geiger, feed administrator in state chemist's office, said the level of aflatoxins found in the Deer Corn exceeded levels the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers safe.
The OISC contacted Rural King headquarters in Mattoon, Ill., which withdrew the product from store shelves.
Deer Corn, packaged in camouflage printed bags, is the only feed product banned from purchase at Rural King, which operates 63 retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri. Customers who bought the product should return it to a Rural King store.
People who have questions should contact Geiger, their local Rural King store or find their state's feed administrator contact information online at the website of the Association of American Feed Control Officials at http://www.aafco.org.
Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu
Source: Robert L. Geiger, 765-494-1551, geigerb@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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