Is Aflatoxin B1 safe for dogs and cats?
High risk for petsDogs are susceptible to aflatoxin hepatotoxicity; multiple large-scale pet food recall events documented. 2005 Diamond Pet Foods recall and 2021 Midwestern Pet Foods recall caused hundreds of dog deaths from liver failure (acute aflatoxicosis). FDA action level for aflatoxins in pet food: 20 ppb. Symptoms: lethargy, vomiting, jaundice, hemorrhage, acute liver failure. No antidote; supportive care only.
What is aflatoxin b1?
The IUPAC name is (3S,7R)-11-methoxy-6,8,19-trioxapentacyclo[10.7.0.02,9.03,7.013,17]nonadeca-1,4,9,11,13(17)-pentaene-16,18-dione.
Also known as: (3S,7R)-11-methoxy-6,8,19-trioxapentacyclo[10.7.0.02,9.03,7.013,17]nonadeca-1,4,9,11,13(17)-pentaene-16,18-dione, AFB1, AFBI, NSC 529592.
- IUPAC name
- (3S,7R)-11-methoxy-6,8,19-trioxapentacyclo[10.7.0.02,9.03,7.013,17]nonadeca-1,4,9,11,13(17)-pentaene-16,18-dione
- CAS number
- 1162-65-8
- Molecular formula
- C17H12O6
- Molecular weight
- 312.27 g/mol
- SMILES
- COC1=C2C3=C(C(=O)CC3)C(=O)OC2=C4C5C=COC5OC4=C1
- PubChem CID
- 186907
Risk for dogs
High riskDogs are susceptible to aflatoxin hepatotoxicity; multiple large-scale pet food recall events documented. 2005 Diamond Pet Foods recall and 2021 Midwestern Pet Foods recall caused hundreds of dog deaths from liver failure (acute aflatoxicosis). FDA action level for aflatoxins in pet food: 20 ppb. Symptoms: lethargy, vomiting, jaundice, hemorrhage, acute liver failure. No antidote; supportive care only.
Risk for cats
High riskCats affected similarly to dogs in aflatoxin-contaminated pet food incidents. Hepatotoxicity and acute liver failure at doses above 20 ppb over prolonged feeding. Cats may show anorexia and icterus earlier than dogs. Same FDA action level (20 ppb) applies; same recall events involved multi-species pet foods. Grain-based cat foods carry similar contamination risk.
Regulatory consensus
4 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Aflatoxin B1. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 2012 | Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) | Naturally occurring aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2); hepatocellular carcinoma; synergistic with hepatitis B virus; Monograph 100F; B1 is the most potent of the four; dietary and occupational exposure in grain handling |
| US EPA | 1998 | known to be carcinogenic to humans | EPA IRIS Group A (human carcinogen); liver cancer primary endpoint; oral slope factor 0.4 per mg/kg-day; EPA action levels for grain and feed |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 33 positive / 3 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 33 positive / 3 negative reports) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where pets encounter aflatoxin b1
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Aflatoxin B1:
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Prevention (storage and agricultural practices)
Trade-offs: Zero point-of-use emissions; shifts emissions to power generation (grid-dependent); lower operating cost; higher capital cost; infrastructure requirements (charging, grid capacity); rapidly improving economics.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is aflatoxin b1 safe for pets?
Dogs are susceptible to aflatoxin hepatotoxicity; multiple large-scale pet food recall events documented. 2005 Diamond Pet Foods recall and 2021 Midwestern Pet Foods recall caused hundreds of dog deaths from liver failure (acute aflatoxicosis). FDA action level for aflatoxins in pet food: 20 ppb. Symptoms: lethargy, vomiting, jaundice, hemorrhage, acute liver failure. No antidote; supportive care only.
What products contain aflatoxin b1?
Aflatoxin B1 appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
Why do regulators disagree about aflatoxin b1?
Aflatoxin B1 has been classified by 4 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Aflatoxin B1 in the pets app
Look up products containing aflatoxin b1, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in pets View raw API dataSources (4)
- IARC Monographs Volume 100F: Aflatoxins — Chemical Agents and Related Occupations (2012) — regulatory
- US EPA IRIS: Aflatoxins — Carcinogenicity Assessment (Group A) (1998) — regulatory
- FDA: Guidance for Industry — Action Levels for Aflatoxins in Animal Feeds and Human Food (2011) — regulatory
- EFSA: Scientific Opinion on the Risks for Public Health Related to Aflatoxins in Food and Feed (2013) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →