Truth About Pet Food published lab results shared by a pet owner yesterday showing dangerous levels of gentamicin, an antibiotic that is not legal to use on cattle, and therefore should not be present in pet food.

The article includes images of the independent laboratory tests indicating that Answers’ Straight Beef and Detailed Beef Dog Food contained gentamicin at levels greatly exceeding the permissible limits for livestock, despite prohibition in cattle.  According to Truth About Pet Food, some pets reportedly became ill after consuming these products and recovered. 

Answers sent out the email below today denying the validity of the lab results and casting doubt on the claim.  “Although we continue to request information from this individual, we have received no information with any medical or scientific information that indicates that our products have caused harm to any pets.  In the meantime, we will continue to independently investigate any customer concern, including this one”

There is no recall at this time. Answers has not responded publicly yet to the consumer complaint.  It’s not clear yet what happened, and what is linked or not to the food.  A recall may or may not be coming.  Watch for further updates.

“Dear Valued Retailers and Distributor Partners,

In response to a recent customer service complaint, Answers Pet Food believes it is important to set the record straight and educate the public on issues that have been raised by an individual about our products.   Answers Pet Food takes every communication and contact with our customers seriously and attempts to respond in the most honest, forthright manner as quickly as possible.  Since we began 16 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about the health of your pets.  We developed a unique process to promote and maintain good health world-wide for the pets that eat our products.  Answers Pet Food uses no antibiotics in our food and only uses USDA, no added antibiotic or hormone, proteins. Throughout our history, science has always been a guiding principle and will continue to be so.  We have received thousands of testimonials to our products and continue to receive them daily indicating the help that our products have provided to pets everywhere.

A single person has made a claim that our product has in some way caused harm to this individual’s pets.  Without any basis in science, medicine or fact, this individual has made this claim.  We have requested from that individual the medical and toxicological information so we can determine how best to proceed to determine what, if any, causal connection exists with our products.  At this time, the information received is not only wholly unreliable but it is a claim without any basis.  To date, we have not received any credible independent veterinary, toxicological, scientific or causal connection between our products and injury to any animals.  

We have sought independent information from medical and scientific professionals to properly evaluate the claim that has been made.  At Answers, we use licensed, highly-trained, skilled and experienced veterinarians and scientists to ensure and assure that our products are of the highest quality.  Although we continue to request information from this individual, we have received no information with any medical or scientific information that indicates that our products have caused harm to any pets.  In the meantime, we will continue to independently investigate any customer concern, including this one.

For almost 16 years, we have been considered the leader in our industry, and we continue to promote the idea that healthy feeding leads to healthy pets.   At Answers, we are always saddened when any pet becomes ill, and we believe that the science behind our products aids in great health for your pets.  

The complaint that we have received from the individual mentioned above references, without any connection to, a voluntary withdrawal of a limited number of our products in 2024.  The reason for the withdrawal was made public with the assistance of Answers.  The basis for the voluntary withdrawal was due to a disagreement that Answers has with the Food and Drug Administration regarding the argument of the quantification of pathogens and has nothing to do with the claim being made now.  Neither the FDA nor any other agency ever found that our product caused injury or harm to any animal.  Answers Pet Food is a raw, fermented product which includes a type of probiotic formula devised by our scientists over years of scientific research and testing.  We believe that the feeding of raw, fermented products is a much healthier alternative to kibble or what is, actually, cooked foods for your pets.

At Answers, we stand behind our products and believe they are the healthiest option available for your pets.  Our 16 years of existence and thousands of happy pet owners are a testament to our high standard and healthy products.  Our products have always been, and will continue to be the same high-quality products that you expect from us, and we look forward to many years of providing the best products on the market for your pets.”