EMERGENCY PET FOOD RECALL: Dog Has Died

A brand of dog food that apparently is tainted with a deadly toxin is being sold in the Rochester area.

Professional Pet Food yesterday released a statement indicating that the deadly toxin aflatoxin had been found in a product manufactured at their Gaston, S.C., facility. Consumers should look out for Diamond or Professional pet food bearing a capital "G" in the 11th or 12th character in the date code, which would indicate it was made at the Gaston facility. Diamond's records show that the company's corn shipments were clear of aflatoxin after December 10, so bags with "Best By 11-June-07" codes or later are not tainted, according to Professional officials.

"We are rapidly analyzing retained samples of all products produced in Gaston," the statement continued, "so we can isolate specific lot numbers impacted and provide this information to our distributors, retailers and customers as quickly as possible."

Professional Pet Foods recommends the following products, manufactured at its Gaston facility, be removed from sale: Professional Chicken & Rice Senior Dog Food, Professional Reduced Fat Chicken & Rice Dog Food, Professional Adult Dog Food, Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food, Professional Puppy Food, Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food and Professional Adult Cat Food.