Salmonella Found In Dog Food
CDC officials say dry dog food may be an under-recognized source of illness in humans, and they are unsure how the bacteria got into the dog food. Usually, Salmonella comes from undercooked meats and eggs.
“They are a number of possible ways that that could happen,” said Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC epidemiologist, who co-authored a report on the finding. “That’s something we are still trying to figure out.”
Humans became infected with Salmonella in 2006 and 2007 from dry dog food produced by Mars Petcare in Pennsylvania. Dogs were not affected, according to the May 16 issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, but a number of those affected were infants.
“The most important thing is to wash your hands right after you handle any dry dog food, any other pet food, pet treats, even supplements or vitamins,” Barton Behravesh said. “In addition, keep infants and other young children away from pet food, because kids tend to want to see what their dogs are eating and grab at the pet food and play with it or even put it in their mouth.”
Tags: contamination, dog food, kids, salmonella, tainted
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And here I may be forced to eat dog food if business gets any worse…
If pet food isn’t safe for a human to eat, never mind touch, then it’s not something I want to have in my house.
People need to stop buying this low grade garbage labeled as complete and balanced pet food! There are plent of better brands from better companies who aren’t packaging toxins and infectious agents into product that routinely comes into contact with humans.
Mars Petcare produces Pedigree, Sheba Whiskas and others http://www.marspetcare.com/products.htm . The recall target “only sized bags from which the bacteria were isolated” and from only 2 brands. “The limited recall by the manufacturer means that contaminated dry pet food is almost certainly still present in many homes” the CDC notes.
Do you know what brands of dog food it may be found in?
How can dog food be safe for our pets if we have to wash our hands after handling the food. I have noticed also it gives those instructions on chew sticks, bones etc. I just can’t believe there are products on the market that can kill our pets and maybe humans and so little is made of it. What is wrong here??? The regulation has gone to hell, no one is doing anything about it? Something Must be looked at in our government, this is unbelievable!
MY DOG HAS BEEN SICK FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS! SHE’S BEEN THROWING UP NON STOP AND REFUSES TO EAT THE PEDIGREE FOOD WE BOUGHT…..IT WILL BE THROWN OUT NOW AND SHE IS GOING TO THE VET TOMORROW MORNING FIRST THING…..THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND REALLY REALLY TICKS ME OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does anyone know if Eukanuba dry dog food could be affected? My 3 yr. old lab has had digestive problems this past month, including vomiting and bloody stools. After we heard about salmonella in dry dog food we are now trying Solid Gold, but I hate to switch foods on her when I really don’t know what is wrong. (She has been to the vet a couple of times this past month.)
I am recuperating from a bout with Salmonella. We cannot figure out how I got it and noone else in our home for the 4 days prior were infected. At first we thought it was the flu then it had all the symptoms of colitis (which I have). However, after going in for some tests I was told I had Salmonella. The health dept even called with some questions. None of the questions (from my Doctor or the Health dept.) had anything to do with pet food. I received this information via an email link I have for colitis. I am the only person in the home that handles the dog food. I use Pedigree for my two dogs. I know the articles say that dogs don’t get sick from contaminated food but I find it supicious that both my dogs had a brief (3-4 days) bout with diarrhea at the same time I did. They did not get anywhere as sick as I did however. I had fever, nausea, intestinal cramps and diarrhea. I was put on Cipro and I am pretty much back to normal but of course I am very concerned about this happening again. I have other health issues that would put me at risk for more severe symptoms. Why does the FDA allow (if they are aware) this to be in peoples homes if there is reason to believe it can make us sick. Also, I don’t want my dogs (they are part of our family) to be sick either. FDA needs to tighten their belts and look even for things that are not so obvious, I mean what the heck are they there for anyway.
If this is what made me sick and we can’t figure out any other way I could have got it, I would caution anyone handling pet food to take precautions. This was a painful experience to say the least.