New Pet Food Recall Due to Salmonella

The FDA has announced that Mars Petcare US has voluntarily recalled two of its dry dog food products after samples tested positive for Salmonella. The pet food was sold in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The recall applies only to the five-pound bags of Krasdale Gravy dry dog food, and Red Flannel Large Breed Adult formula dry food. The large breed dog food was only sold at stores in Reedsland and Richlandtown, Pennsylvania.

The strain of Salmonella involved, Salmonella Schwarzengrund, can be transferred to people and cause illness or death. Cross-contamination can happen when handling the dry pet food or contacting any surfaces that it has come in contact with. The risk of transferring the organism is much higher if hands are not washed thoroughly afterward. Symptoms of Salmonella infection in humans are fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. While there have been cases of human illness related to salmonella Schwarzengrund, no reported cases have been linked to the recalled pet food.

Pets are also at high risk from the organism. Your pet can be infected and be a carrier while not showing any symptoms. When present the symptoms can be merely decreased appetite and fever or abdominal pain, or they can involve vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea or bloody diarrhea. The FDA recommends contacting your veterinarian if your pet has consumed any of the recalled product.

Consumers who have purchased one of these products are asked to dispose of the bag's contents in a secure way (bagged in a tightly closed trash bin). The empty bag can be returned to the store where purchased for a full refund. To report a complaint or reaction to this or any other pet food product, please contact the FDA's Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

The source of the Salmonella infection of the pet food is unknown at this time. The FDA has similar recommendations for pet food safety as for human food. Finished products should be independently sampled before releasing for sale, and incoming ingredients sampled before use for production. During the manufacturing process at least one step should be used to kill any pathogens in the product.

The information below is from the FDA news release and details the products being recalled:

Product: Krasdale Gravy dry dog food
Size: Five-pound bag
UPC Code: 7513062596
Best By Date: July 16, 2008 & July 17, 2008
Best By Date Location: Back of bag
Distribution: Stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

Product: Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food
Size: 50-pound bag
UPC Code: 4286900062
Best By Date: July 12, 2008
Best By Date Location: Back of bag
Distribution: Stores in Reedsland and Richlandtown, Pa.

Sources:

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01689.html

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/MarsPetCareQnA.htm