MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S. — Cargill’s animal nutrition business is voluntarily recalling select Southern States feed due to aflatoxin levels that exceed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) action levels.

The affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s Cleveland, North Carolina, U.S., facility. Cargill first learned of the issue when it received a notification from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture of test results showing that a single lot of a specific Southern States product contained elevated levels of aflatoxin. Cargill said it identified and corrected the root cause.

The following affected products were recalled from retail outlets and distributors in the Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia markets and removed from retail shelves throughout February, March, and April 2019.

The recalled products include:

Livestock, horses, and poultry exposed to aflatoxin are at risk of exposure to several health hazards.

According to Cargill, aflatoxicosis has the same acute and chronic adverse effects and health consequences across all species and age classes (immature and mature). Immature animals are more sensitive to aflatoxins. Acute aflatoxicosis may result in generalized hemorrhage, bloody diarrhea and death in one to three days. In addition, aflatoxin toxicity can cause reduced feed intake, reduced weight gain, liver damage, jaundice, and eventually death.

No adverse health effects to animals have been reported to date. Nonetheless, Cargill said it is taking this voluntary step out of an abundance of caution.

Consumers and other end users who have any of the affected lots in their possession should return remaining product to their local dealer or retailer for a replacement or full refund. For more information, call 800.822.1012.

“At Cargill, the safety of our products and the well-being of the animals we feed is our top priority,” the company said. “This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of and in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”