Diamond Pet Foods Expands Recall

Diamond Pet Foods has expanded its earlier recalls to include all formulas and package sizes of the following brands of dry dog food manufactured in the Gaston, South Carolina facility between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012.

Recalled products show a “2” or “3” in the 9th digit of the production code, AND the letter “X” in the  10th or 11th digit. The products were distributed to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada.

The affected brands include:

• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
• Country Value
• Diamond
• Diamond Naturals
• Premium Edge
• Professional
• 4Health
• Taste of the Wild

Also recalled are the following Kirkland Signature dry dog and cat foods, bearing best before dates of December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; production codes should include the number “3” in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit.

In addition, WellPet LLC has announced a recall of Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy dry dog food (15lb and 30lb bags and 5-oz sample bags; Best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013), due to potential Salmonella contamination. The puppy food was manufactured for WellPet at Diamond’s Gaston production facility.

Salmonella-contaminated dry dog food manufactured at the Gaston plant has been linked to 14 confirmed cases of human Salmonella illness in 9 states.

CDC offers this advice to pet owners:

• Consumers should check their homes for recalled dog food products and discard them promptly. Consumers with questions about recalled dog food may contact Diamond Pet Foods at telephone number (800) 442-0402 or visit http://www.diamondpetrecall.com.
• Follow the tips listed on Salmonella from Dry Pet Food and Treats to help prevent an infection with Salmonella from handling dry pet food and treats.
• People who think they might have become ill after contact with dry pet food or with an animal that has eaten dry pet food should consult their health care providers. Infants, older adults, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.
• People who think their animal might have become ill after eating dry pet food should consult their veterinary-care providers.
• Read Additional Information for Pet Owners to learn the signs and symptoms of salmonellosis in dogs and cats, and to understand how to deal with possible Salmonella illness in your pet.

Also, be aware that dogs may be infected with Salmonella – and may shed the bacteria in their stool – without showing any outward symptoms of illness. If your pet has consumed a Diamond Pet Foods dry dog food, be especially careful to wash your hands after handling it, and supervise closely any interaction between children and your pet.