CLARK, Mo. — Over this weekend the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued a warning about some recalled lots of alfalfa cubes manufactured by Manzanola Feeds out of Manzanola, Colorado. The feeding of these cubes has caused reported illness and/or death in horses in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. And distribution of these cubes has been reported into our trade territory (MO, KS, OK, AR, IL).
Note that these alfalfa cubes are not sold through the MFA wholesale system nor are they carried by Consumers Supply. Additionally they are not utilized by MFA for the manufacture of any feeds. But they could have been acquired by dealers and customers through other suppliers.
Here are a few facts that were initially issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cautioning horse owners not to feed Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes with the date codes 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522, and 111622.
- These alfalfa cubes have been recalled by Manzanola Feeds of Manzanola, CO, which distributes products directly to feed stores and co-ops in 10 states. Further distribution is possible, so it’s important to check the date codes if you have these products.
- Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes are sold in white and tan plastic 50-pound bags with green labeling. The date codes are on the front of the package.
- If you have Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes with these date codes, or you can’t be sure of the date code of the products you have, throw them away in a secure container and follow the handling and cleaning instructions below.
- FDA is aware of at least 98 horses in Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas who showed neurologic symptoms. At least 45 of these horses have died or were euthanized due to declining health.
- The symptoms reported are consistent with botulism, and while further testing is underway to pinpoint the cause of the horse illnesses, horse owners and handlers should take precautions to protect human and animal health.
- Immediately consult a veterinarian if your horse ate this product and shows signs of neurologic illness, such as muscle tremors, difficulty eating or swallowing, difficulty standing, or collapse.
Additionally, on Monday the 19th, the Kansas Department of Agriculture sent an email to all entities holding a Kansas Feed License (which includes MFA, Inc.) with the following details:
Out of an abundance of caution 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, an organism that can cause severe and potentially fatal toxicity in animals eating the contaminated food or coming into contact with 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. 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.
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.
There have been 45 horse deaths associated with this issue, to date.
If you have any questions, please contact Manzanola Feeds by phone at 719-462-5638, Monday through Friday 8AM-4 PM MST., or email manzyfeeds@hotmail.com.
Again, as stated at the beginning, this is not a product that has been sold from the MFA wholesale system, but it could have been acquired by dealers or your customers through other suppliers. Please share this information with your customers as this carries health concerns beyond the animals that these cubes are fed to.
This type of situation is never good news, but it hits even harder when it occurs during a holiday season that should be bringing joy and happiness to all. Keep helping your customers and find joy in this Christmas season regardless of the circumstances!
— Missouri Horse Council
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