The results were similar to those obtained from the pet supply chain.
The Finnish Food Agency has confirmed that pet food sold by the Musti ja Mirri pet supply chain last year contained considerable concentrations of toxic glycoalkaloids from potato flakes. The animals’ severe symptoms are likely caused by a combination of the high volume of potato flakes in the Smaak brand food, and its toxicity, according to the agency.
In November a large number of pet owners criticized how Musti Group handled the animal feed recall, after suspicions, caused serious illness and symptoms in animals that ranged from nausea to temporary paralysis.
Musti Group promised soon refunded pet owners for veterinary fees related to illnesses associated with their products. Shortly after the initial recall, a number of cat owners reported that their felines had been sickened by Smaak brand Musti ja Mirri grain-free dry food.
The company later removed the brand from its product line.
In mid-November, the company he said that his own tests showed that animal diseases were caused by a high concentration of glycoalkaloid in the food, adding that the potato flakes in question were imported.
No legal limit of glycoalkaloids
In a press release issued on Thursday, the Food Authority said that its laboratory tests examined samples taken from the affected food at a Musti ja Mirri warehouse. Samples of the pet food – manufactured in Lieto, Southwest Finland – were extensively examined for harmful microbes, harmful and prohibited substances, as well as their nutritional composition, the agency said.
He noted that the tests were conducted in his own laboratory as well as in a third-party laboratory.
He said that considerable concentrations of glycoalkaloids were found in the potato raw material and that the potato levels in the recipe itself were high.
The agency also pointed out that there is no legislation that limits the concentration levels of glycoalkaloids in animal feed.
Citing a risk assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Food Agency said there is not enough research data on glycoalkaloid reactions in dogs and cats.
The agency said however that it is known that different species have different sensitivities to glycoalkaloid toxicity, so toxicity limits cannot be directly applied from one species to another.
Other tests showed that there were no other harmful microbes, medicines or other prohibited substances in the food. It also found that the concentrations of heavy metals and mycotoxins were below the maximum levels allowed by law.
Later in November, Musti Group – a publicly traded company – announced that a consortium including members of the company’s management and a Portuguese multinational company offered shareholders to buy the animal supply chain for about 868 million euros. The offer reflects a premium of just over 27 percent to the company’s closing price of 20.46 euros per share on November 27.
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