Dog Food Recalls 2022

It’s a part of life that some things are bound to go wrong. Not everything goes according to the plan, and no one knows it better than Dog food brands. Dog foods are pretty susceptible to going bad or becoming not fit for consumption anymore. There are many reasons for that happening, but the most common reasons include contamination before packaging because of poor quality control at the production site or after packaging due to poor quality packaging that is prone to damage. As a result of all this, such dog foods are recalled, which is termed dog food recalls. No year is free of recalled dog foods. Similarly, this year also has a complete list of dog food recalls 2021. 

Avoid recalled dog food 2021 at any cost.

Owners need to be aware of all the recalled dog food 2021 before buying dog food. As there are chances, they might get dog food belonging to the list of recalled dog food 2021. That can be extremely harmful to their dogs as those recalled dog food 2021 was recalled for a reason. These reasons are more often than not being contaminated by harmful agents such as various chemicals or by organisms such as Salmonella. And therefore, owners must do their homework before getting their pooch a new meal. But the reason dog food being on the list of recalled dog food 2021 is not just contamination. Dog food recalls 2021 happened due to several other reasons as well, which are as follows.

Not enough protein

Several dog food recalls 2021 happened because of the dog food not having enough protein content. Protein is essential for dogs as they are predatory animals, and therefore, they depend upon their meal to fulfill their protein needs. Without an ample supply of protein, your dog’s health can be seriously affected. His body can stop synthesizing amino acids, muscles, and his brain growth can also receive a resounding blow. That’s why a lot of dog food found itself in the list of dog food recalls 2021 as they lacked the required concentration of protein in them. The recommended concentration of protein in any dog food is around 30% to 35%.

Not having scientific research backing them.

This holds especially true for dog food brands that are newcomers to the market. If such brands are not supported by scientific research, and it is found out that the product in hand didn’t undergo enough tests, then that specific product is placed in the list of recalled dog food, and the same goes for the list of dog food recalls 2021 as it is also full of such products.

Products that don’t face the scrutiny of medical tests might end up hurting our four-legged best friends, and therefore they are placed on the list of recalled dog food 2021. Owners should be wary of this fact before they buy any new dog food.

Not trusted by vets

Dog food products can also be recalled if enough vets distrust the product due to its poor production quality. Vets are the most knowledgeable group of people when it comes to knowing what’s good for the health of our canine friends. Therefore, regulatory organizations hold the opinion of vets very highly. Several dog food products ended up on the list of dog food recalls 2021 due to this very reason. 

Lacking in fats

Most owners are not aware of how essential fats are to dogs as they play a vital role in the upkeep of any dog’s health. Yes, excess fats are wrong, as with anything, but this doesn’t mean that you should not give your dog enough fats. Fats help your dog absorb essential vitamins; they also aid him in keeping his nervous system intact. Moreover, fats are also a good source of instant energy that can come in handy for dogs. All these reasons are why this year, dog foods lacking in fats found themselves in the list of dog food recalls 2021. 

This is precisely why we suggest our owner focus on the list of recalled dog food 2021, as most of the food on that list is not fit for consumption or is not nutritious enough.  

Having no sense of Age-appropriate food

More often than not, dog foods that claim to be specific to a particular age group fail to match the standards of their claim, which is a sure way to end up in lists like recalled dog food 2021. Dogs belonging to different age groups have drastically different nutritional needs, and therefore, not all dog foods can fulfill their dietary needs. 

The same stuff happened in 2021, as well as many fraudulent dog food brands claimed that their product was specific to puppies, but in reality, it was just the same old generic food. That’s why the list of dog food recalls 2021 is full of such dog food brands. 

Loaded with additives

Artificial additives can cause havoc to your dog’s health. Therefore, owners should try their level best to avoid dog food that carries such additives. Most dog food brands are pretty aware that additives are incredibly harmful to the well-being of dogs. However, still, there are bound to be dog food brands that don’t take this fact as seriously as they should and therefore add extra additives to their food to make their product look more premium.

Fortunately, many regulatory bodies keep an eye for such products and add them to lists, such as dog food recalls 2021.  

Full of Soy and corn

Many dog food brands try to cut corners by supplementing their products with soy and corn-based protein to cut corners. This is huge malpractice as this can affect your best friend’s health. Therefore, such dog foods are often placed in lists like recalled dog food recalls 2021. 

Such products go through dog food recalls 2021 as their protein content is simply not high quality enough and therefore cannot meet the protein requirement of dogs. 

List of dog food recalls 2021

Now that you are aware of why dog food can be placed in lists like recalled dog food 2021. We think it’s time to tell our readers about some of the significant dog foods that were amongst the scores of recalled dog food 2021. The purpose of us providing you with these names is not to accuse the dog food products but to inform our valued readers what kind of dog foods are present in the list of dog food recalls 2021. 

Top Quality dog food

Top-quality dog food is the first dog food brand in our list of dog food recalls 2021, which is recalling its dog food. The reason stated by top quality dog food for recalling their dog food is contamination by Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The particular dog food item being recalled by top-quality dog food is one batch of their “Beef HVM” product. 

Specification of dog food item that is amongst recalled dog food 2021

The name of the food item from top-quality dog foods that have been placed on the list of dog food recalls 2021 is Beef HVM. This particular food item was registered with lot number 071521 and was offered in package sizes of one pound each. 

Where was the product sold?

The dog food item present in the list of dog food recalls 2021, namely Beef HVM, was widely distributed in the following states.

• Maryland
• Virginia
• Delaware
• Pennsylvania
• District of Columbia
• Massachusets
• South Carolina
• Connecticut

When was this product on the list of dog food recalls 2021 sold?

The product was sold in the states mentioned above between July 27, 2021, to August 2, 2021. 

What caused the recall

This specific dog food product found itself on the list of dog food recalls 2021 when Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes contaminated a sample of this food being analyzed by state authorities. 

Statement from Top Quality dog foods

According to the statements given by top-quality dog foods, they have recalled all batches that are suspected of carrying contaminated dog food. They are working with the state authorities to find out the cause of the contamination. 

The top-quality dog foods have already contacted everyone who bought the contaminated food and advised its customers to dispose of the contaminated food if they have such a product. You can also return the product and get your money back without any hassle. 

Contact information of Top-Quality dog foods

You can contact customer care representatives at top-quality dog foods by dialing them at 240-802-6601.

You can also write to them at cutomerservice@topqualitydogfood.com. 

Some information about Salmonella 

Salmonella is a bacterium that is often the culprit of causing food poisoning and other gut-related problems. This particular bacterium is found on almost all surfaces and can affect a wide range of hosts, including dogs and even humans. Salmonella can often contaminate dog food due to its abundant presence, and therefore, manufacturers need to make special arrangements to avoid this pesky bacterium. Salmonella contamination is the leading cause of dog food products ending in lists like dog food recalls 2021. This shows how severe of a threat can Salmonella contamination be to dogs and the handlers of the contaminated food. Following are all the health concerns that can be caused by Salmonella contamination.

Threat to the handlers of the dog food 

People who unknowingly handle dog food contaminated by Salmonella can fall victim to several health-related problems. Typical symptoms of salmonella attack are nausea, abdominal cramping, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and even bloody diarrhea. Dog owners should keep an eye for these symptoms and shouldn’t take them lightly if one of them shows its ugly head. 

Although it’s pretty rare, Salmonella can also result in some severe and life-threatening diseases such as Urinary tract problems, Eye irritation, chronic muscle pain, Heart-related problems, arthritis, and even endocarditis in severe cases. From all these health problems caused by handling dog food contaminated by Salmonella, it must be evident that you should avoid any product that got placed in the list of dog food recalls 2021 due to being contaminated with Salmonella.

Health issues caused by Salmonella in dogs

Dogs are at significant risk of being affected by Salmonella as dog foods are often contaminated by Salmonella, which, as described, is the leading cause of dog foods being placed amongst recalled dog food 2021. Salmonella can make your canine friend ill, and it can even have long-term implications as consumption of food that Salmonella contaminates is a leading cause of dogs contracting various life-threatening problems. Therefore, we stress that dog owners must read the list of dog food recalls 2021 and should avoid every recalled dog food 2021 at any cost. 

Illness associated with dogs affected by Salmonella is classified into broad categories as there are tons of such problems. But to give a general idea of all the illnesses caused by dog food that Salmonella contaminates, we have presented our readers with an essential list of all the parent disorders that are caused by dog foods which found itself in the list of recalled dog food 2021 due to being contaminated by Salmonella, the list includes but is not limited to the following.

• Severe fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Fever 
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea which can then progress into bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Fever

The above-mentioned list of illnesses is caused by the consumption of dog foods present on the list of dog food recalls 2021 and are contaminated by Salmonella. But this doesn’t mean that only unhealthy dogs contract diseases due to Salmonella. Dogs affected by Salmonella but are generally healthy show a different range of diseases and problems caused due to being infected by Salmonella. Such dogs can also act as carriers of Salmonella and therefore can spread this bacterial infection to other dogs, household pets, and even to other humans. 

If you think that pet has been infected by Salmonella or is showing all the above symptoms, then you should immediately head to your vet. Your vet is the most knowledgeable person when it comes to your dog’s health, and therefore, he will surely be able to treat your pooch in the best way possible. The same also goes if your dog has consumed any of the dog food presents on the list of dog food recalls 2021 as there is no point in waiting for some symptom to show up or something wrong to happen to your dog for you to take him to the vet. Consumption of dog food amongst recalled dog food 2021 is no joke, and therefore you should act accordingly. 

What is Listeria Monocytogenes Bacteria

Listeria Monocytogenes is a species of pathogenic bacteria that is notorious for causing a multitude of health-related problems in animals and humans alike. Dogs are especially susceptible to being infected by Listeria Monocytogenes as this particular bacterium is hard to tackle. What we mean by that is this particular bacterium can even survive refrigeration. Therefore, many dog foods are contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes, which results in them being placed on the list of dog food recalls. Especially the list for dog food recalls 2021 is particularly full of such dog foods. Dog food infected by Listeria Monocytogenes contamination can lead to several illnesses in its consumer and its handler.

As a handler, how can you be affected by Listeria Monocytogenes?

Listeria Monocytogenes is a pesky bacterium that can cause a plethora of disorders just by handling food products that are contaminated by it. Therefore, we recommend our readers be aware of the list of dog food recalls 2021 and avoid every dog food present on that dreaded list of recalled dog food 2021. Following are the illnesses that you can contract just by handling food contaminated by Listeria Monocytogenes.

• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle Pain
• Skin Rashes
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain

As it must be clear to you now, handling dog food present on the list of dog food recalls 2021 and contaminated by Listeria Monocytogenes can cause serious illnesses. In some severe cases, it can also result in death. Therefore, you should stay away from such products. 

Impacts of Listeria Monocytogenes on dogs

Listeria Monocytogenes can cause a wide range of serious medical problems in dogs. Infections by Listeria Monocytogenes are hazardous for pregnant dogs as they can easily cause your dog to have a miscarriage. Other commonly associated diseases and health problems with Listeria Monocytogenes are

• Anorexia
• Fever
• Problems of the nervous system
• Muscle breakdown and other muscle-related problems
• Respiration related health concerns
• Depression
• Shock 
• Death

Infections due to Listeria Monocytogenes are a grave matter, and they can cause fatal implications in your dogs. That’s why our readers need to understand the importance of reading lists such as dog food recalls 2021. Dog owners must do their homework before getting a new dog food item and should be warry of any dog food item that may be present in the list of recalled dog food 2021. 

Simply nourish dog food

The second name on our list of dog food recalls 2021 is a dog food item named simply nourish dog food. This dog food is offered by Wet Nose natural dog treat company based in Monroe, Washington, US. The wet nose natural dog treat company is a well-known name in the dog treat section, and their product is quite common in all PetSmart stores across the states.  

What’s being recalled

Product name of recalled dog food 2021	Net weight of the dog food on the list for dog food recalls 2021	UPC of the product on the list for dog food recalls 2021	Best buy range of the recalled dog food 2021 in the question
Simply nourish frozen chicken and veggies	2 pounds	73725792262	11/10/2021 to 1/12/2023
Simply nourish frozen chicken and veggies	4.5 pounds	73725792264	11/10/2021 to 1/12/2023
Simple nourish frozen beef and barley	2 pounds	73725792266	11/10/2021 to 1/12/2023
Simple nourish frozen beef and barley	4.5 pounds	73725792267	11/10/2021 to 1/12/2023
Simple nourish frozen turkey and sweet potato	2 pounds	73725792260	11/10/2021 to 1/12/2023
Simple nourish frozen turkey and sweet potato	4.5 pounds	73725792263	11/10/2021 to 1/12/2023

On August 12, 2021, Wet nose natural dog treat company recalled around 51,000 packages of simply nourish frozen dog food because of excessive concentration of Vitamin D present in the dog food. Therefore, they ended up on the list of dog food recalls 2021. 

The recalled product is marketed in packaging sizes of 2 pounds and 4.5 pounds across the states. We have included the lot number of all the recalled items along with their best buy dates to give a better idea to our readers on what specific dog food ended up in the list of recalled dog food 2021 and therefore needs to be discarded if they are possession of one.

Where was the product sold?

This particular dog food product in our list of dog food recalls 2021 was sold all across the states, exclusively in PetSmart stores.  

A short note about Vitamin D

Vitamin is an essential vitamin which means dogs can’t synthesize this particular vitamin on their own. Therefore, they rely on their meal to supply them with the required amounts of Vitamin D. Vitamin D serves to strengthen the bone and promotes bone regeneration. Therefore, novice dog owners often end up overfeeding their canine friends in the hopes that it will benefit their dogs. This also entices dog food brands to add extra amounts of vitamin D to meet the demand and boost their sales. But this practice ends up hurting the health of our four-legged best friends in the long run, and therefore dog food products carrying excess amounts of vitamin D are often recalled, which places them amongst the recalled dog foods like recalled dog food 2021.   

How can vitamin D toxicity affect your four-legged best friend?

Overconsumption of vitamin D can cause your pooch to experience Vitamin D toxicity. This is nothing to be taken lightly as Vitamin D toxicity can result in serious medical issues like Kidney failure, heart attacks, various skin-related problems, and even death. Therefore, owners must try their best to read about lists like dog food recalls 2021 and should match the lot number of the product they are about to buy with the lot number given on the list of dog food recalls 2021 to prevent their pooch from the adverse effects of Vitamin D poisoning. Following are some symptoms of Vitamin D toxicity caused by dog food consumption placed on the list of dog food recalls 2021. 

• Vomiting 
• Loss of appetite
• Increased thirst
• Excessive drooling
• Increased urination
• Weight loss

If your dog is exhibiting such symptoms, then it is highly likely that he has consumed a recalled dog food preset on the list of recalled dog food 2021 and is therefore suffering from Vitamin D toxicity. You should immediately head to the vet to get your dog treated as soon as possible, as vitamin D toxicity can be fatal. 

What resulted in the recall of this dog food?

These particular batches of simply nourish frozen dog food were recalled and consequently placed on the list for recalled dog food 2021 after a routine safety check and nutrition test confirmed elevated levels of vitamin D in the dog food. The concentration of Vitamin D was enough to cause Vitamin D toxicity in dogs, and that’s why you can find this particular dog food on our list of dog food recalls 2021. 

After looking into this matter, it was found out that the problem was caused due to vitamin mix supplied by a third party manufacturer had reduced concentration of other vitamins in it. Although it was a significant change, still this change was communicated to folds at Wet Nose natural dog treat company. Therefore, the vitamin mix was not altered appropriately. This resulted in the dog food having excessive amounts of Vitamin D, resulting in the placement of Simply nourish dog food in the list of dog food recalls 2021.

Company Message

After all this, there was a huge public outcry against Wet Nose natural dog treat company. As a response to this, the company responded by saying that they cared deeply about their customers and even more about their dogs. They also said they had placed the correct measures and necessary security checks to ensure that this wouldn’t happen again. 

Wet Nose natural dog treat company also urges their customers to return any recalled dog food item present on our list of recalled dog food 2021 and get their money back without any hassle,

Contact information of Wet Nose natural dog treat company

Customers of Wet Nose natural dog treat company can contact them by dialing them on 800-938-6673.

Bravo dog food

Bravo Packing Inc. is the third entry to our list of dog food recalls 2021 and is probably the unluckiest one of all our entries. Bravo Packing is situated in Carney point New Jersey and is the parent company of Bravo Dog food. This particular brand first recalled two dog food options under suspicion of being contaminated by Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes Bacterium. This voluntary recall had to be extended to all of their products. An investigation from the FDA later concluded that their entire range of dog food products was at risk of being contaminated by Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes. That’s how the entire range of Bravo Dog food ended up recalled and in our list of recalled dog food 2021.

Which particular dog foods ended up in our list of dog food recalls 2021

As mentioned above, Bravo dog food has extended the recall to its entire range of dog food and treats options. Following is the description of all the products that have been recalled and are present on the list of recalled dog food 2021

Product name of recalled dog food 2021	Net weight of the dog food on the list for dog food recalls 2021
“Performance dog” (chub) frozen raw dog food	2 pounds
“Performance dog” (chub) frozen raw dog food	5 pounds
“Green Tripe”(chub-ground bovine stomach) frozen raw dog food	2 pounds
“Green Tripe”(chub-ground bovine stomach) frozen raw dog food	5 pounds
Beef(chub-ground) frozen raw dog food	2 pounds
Beef(chub-ground) frozen raw dog food	5 pounds
“Performance dog” (patties) frozen raw dog food	Unknown
Bones (smoked) 14 varieties	Unknown

Where was the product sold?

Bravo dog food that got placed in the list of dog food recalls 2021 was sold throughout the states at small- and large-scale stores. 

Contact information of bravo dog foods

You can contact customer care representatives at bravo dog foods by dialing them at 856-299-1044.

You can also write to them at cutomerservice@bravodogfood.com. 

Purina dog food

Purina dog food is a household name and is offered by its parent company called Purina Animal Nutrition. On June 11, 2021, Purina dog foods recalled their Beef cattle feed Range Land based on their tubs being too soft which allowed for the overconsumption of the food resulting in increased amounts of urea in dogs. This can further cause a wide range of Kidney related problems. This contributed to Purina dog food being on our list of dog food recalls 2021.

Furthermore, through their independent investigation of the dog food product, the FDA also concluded that the dog food was unfit for consumption due to the pallets and tubs being too soft. This further resulted in solidifying the product’s recalled status amongst other recalled dog food 2021. 

Product, on the list of dog food recalls 2021, that is being recalled

The affected product goes by the name of Beef cattle feed range land and has been recalled on the basis of its tubs being too soft which may lead to over consumption by dogs. Leading to renal problems. Following are the description of the product in question

Formula number of the product on the list of recalled dog food 2021	Item number of the product on the list of recalled dog food 2021	Description of the product on the list of recalled dog food 2021	Lot number of the product on the list of recalled dog food 2021
L3B3	1800049-627	Purina Range Land 30-13(125#)	1MAR19CLF1

Where was the recalled dog food sold?

The dog food item present in the list of dog food recalls 2021, namely Beef cattle feed rangeland from Purina pet foods, was widely distributed in the following states.

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Louisiana 
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma 
• Oregon
• Texas
• Washington

Contact information of Purina Animal Nutrition 

Customers can contact folks at Purina Animal Nutrition for further information and complaints.

Their toll-free number is active from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm CST. Their contact number is as follows

800-227-8941

Effects of urea toxicity on dogs and its symptoms

Excess of urea acid in the body can lead to severe outcomes like renal stones and even renal failure, in addition to several urinary tract-related problems. Therefore, owners should do their homework and read the list of recalled dog food 2021 before purchasing a dog food as using a dog food that is amongst the recalled dog food 2021. 

Dog owners should keep an eye for any urea toxicity-related symptoms to protect their canine best friends from any adverse outcomes. Following are all the symptoms of Urea toxicity.

• Muscle tremors
• Abdominal Pain
• Frothy salvation
• Polyuria
• Bruxism

Sunshine Mills

On June 2, 2021, Sunshine Mills, the parent company of various dog foods, recalled multiple dog foods offered by them. This placed many of their dog food on our list of recalled dog food 2021. The reason given by sunshine mills for the sudden recall of their products is salmonella contamination. Salmonella contamination is the single biggest reason for dog food being recalled and being placed on the list of recalled dog food 2021

Description of dog food items placed on the list of recalled dog food 2021. 

Sunshine Mills offered the following products, which ended up being recalled and on our list of recalled dog food 2021. We had also included the lot number, size, best before dates, and the states where a select dog food product was sold. 

Name of the product recalled dog food 2021 list	Size of recalled dog food 2021	BB date and lot# of dog food on the list of recalled dog food 2021	UPC code of recalled dog food 2021	States where the select dog food on recalled dog food 2021 was sold.
Sportsman’s Pride Professional formulae 30/20 Dog food.	40 pounds	Best if used by 7th October 2021.   Lot number: TI1 07/Oct/2021	7015510184	MS, FL, TN, LA, VA, NC, TX
Sprout sporting dog food	5 pounds           40 pounds	Best if used by 6th October 2021.   Lot number: TE1 06/Oct/2021   Best if used by 6th October 2021.   Lot number: TI3 06/Oct/2021	7015505101           7015505100	MN, WI, IA, SD, ND
Intimidator chicken and rice formula Dog food 30/20	16 pounds           40 pounds	Best if used by 6th October 2021.   Lot number: TA1 06/Oct/2021   Best if used by 6th October 2021.   Lot number: TA1 06/Oct/2021	7015541002           5216631214
FRM gold select high performance dog food.	50 pounds	Best if used by 6th October 2021.   Lot number: TA1 06/Oct/2021	1549905873	GA, FL

What caused the recall

This particular dog food got placed in the list of recalled dog food 2021 after the firm was notified by the exclusive distributor, Fleet wholesale supply company, of the potential of the food being contaminated by Salmonella. 

The distributer was in turn notified by the Minnesota Department of agriculture about the possible contamination. This resulted in the placement of all these dog food products on the list of recalled dog foods. A sample of Sprout sporting dog food was also tested positive for salmonella contamination to add fuel to the fire. This further solidified the place of sunshine mills dog food on the list of recalled dog food 2021. 

Contact information of Sunshine mils

If you ended up buying any one of these dog foods, which are amongst recalled dog food 2021, then you can call the customer care office of Sunshine Mills and get your money back. Their contact number is 800-705-2111. This number is active from Monday through Friday from 7 am to 4 pm Central Time. 

Following are some more incidences of dog foods being placed on the list for recalled dog food 2021 that dog owners need to be aware of.

Addition of Freshpet dog food to the list of dog food recalls 2021 

This product was added to the list of recalled dog food 2021 on June 14, 2021. The reason for the addition of this product to the list of dog food recalls was contamination by Salmonella

Placement of Popular dog treats to the list of dog food recalls 2021

This product was placed on the list of recalled dog food 2021 on May 3, 2021. The reason for the addition of this product to the list of dog food recalls 2021 was a quality check

Addition of Midwestern pet foods to the list of dog food recalls 2021 

On March 28, 2021, a wide range of dog foods offered by Midwestern pet foods was included in the ranks of recalled dog food 2021. The reason for adding this product to the list of dog food recalls was contamination by Salmonella.

Placement of Sportmix dog food to the list of dog food recalls 2021 

This product was placed on the list of recalled dog food 2021 on January 11, 2021. The reason for adding this product to the list of dog food recalls 2021 was fatal amounts of aflatoxin.

Placement of Multiple brands to the list for recalled dog food 2021

This product was placed on the list of recalled dog food 2021 on July 3, 2021. The reason for the addition of this product to the list of dog food recalls 2021 was salmonella contamination

Inclusion of Albright’s dog food to the list for recalled dog food 2021

This product was placed on the list of recalled dog food 2021 on May 13, 2021. The reason for the addition of this product to the list of dog food recalls 2021 was salmonella contamination

Inclusion of Pup-Peroni dog treats to the list for recalled dog food 2021

On July 29, 2021, dog treats offered by pup-Peroni dog treats were added to the list of recalled dog food 2021. The reason for the addition of this product to the list of dog food recalls 2021 was the presence of Mold in the food.

Addition of Zuke’s Mini natural dog foods to the list of dog food recalls 2021 

 On April 30, 2021, a wide range of dog foods offered by Zuke’s Mini natural dog foods was added to the list of recalled dog food 2021. The reason for the addition of this product to the list of dog food recalls 2021 was the potential of mold growth in the food.