MINNEAPOLIS – On July 2, Cargill's animal nutrition business announced a voluntary recall of its Nutrena NatureWise meatbird feed due to excessive levels of sodium. Although sodium is an essential nutrient for poultry, excessive levels of sodium meatbird diets may result in pulmonary hypertension, increased mortality, reduced growth rate, increased water consumption, wet droppings and wet litter.

According to a press release, consumption of the affected feeds may have contributed to poultry illness and death. The company advised customers to call their veterinarian if their animals have experienced adverse health effects while consuming the affected product.


Products in question were manufactured at Cargill's West Branch, Iowa, facility on April 28, 2014, and were distributed in Iowa, Illinois and possibly Missouri. Products were sold in 40-lb. bags under the name NatureWise Meatbird 22% Crumble with the product code 91585-40 and lot code 5941181016. Cargill said it is taking appropriate steps to retrieve all affected products and the company is investigating the cause of the incident.