Category: pet food

One death, 63 hospitalized, 164 ill in Salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey products

In the last year, a multidrug-resistant strain of Salmonella Reading has infected 164 people in 35 states. Sixty-three people have been hospitalized, one person is dead, and the outbreak is showing no signs of abating.

According to CDC, the outbreak strain has been isolated from live turkeys and from raw turkey products, including raw turkey pet food. No single source of the outbreak strain has been identified, and the outbreak strain appears to be widespread in the turkey industry.

Outbreak victims have reported consuming different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different locations.

Three of the victims were members of a household that fed its pets with a commercial raw turkey pet food.

In February 2018, the Minnesota Department of Health reported two cases of Salmonella Reading linked to Raws for Paws Ground Turkey Food for Pets. The company recalled the implicated product on February 8th.

No other products have been recalled in conjunction with this outbreak investigation.

States reported confirmed illness associated with this outbreak include:

Alaska (1), Arizona (1), California (13), Colorado (6), Connecticut (3), Delaware (1), Florida (7), Georgia (2), Hawaii (1), Idaho (1), Iowa (3), Illinois (16), Indiana (3), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (3), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (6), Minnesota (17), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (8), New York (12), North Carolina (7), North Dakota (2), Ohio (5), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (8), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (11), Virginia (8), Wisconsin (6).

With Thanksgiving fast approaching in the US, consumers and food service operators should take extra care in handling all poultry products.

CDC advises consumers to follow these steps to help prevent Salmonella infection from raw turkey:

  • Wash your hands. Salmonella infections can spread from one person to another. Wash hands before and after preparing or eating food, after contact with animals, and after using the restroom or changing diapers.
  • Cook raw turkey thoroughly to kill harmful germs. Turkey breasts, whole turkeys, and ground poultry, including turkey burgers, casseroles, and sausage, should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill harmful germs. Leftovers should be reheated to 165°F. Use a food thermometer to check, and place it in the thickest part of the food.
  • Don’t spread germs from raw turkey around food preparation areas. Washing raw poultry before cooking is not recommended. Germs in raw poultry juices can spread to other areas and foods. Thoroughly wash hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils with warm, soapy water after they touch raw turkey. Use a separate cutting board for raw turkey and other raw meats if possible.
  • Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water that is changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave. Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter.
  • CDC does not recommend feeding raw diets to pets. Germs like Salmonella in raw pet food can make your pets sick. Your family also can get sick by handling the raw food or by taking care of your pet.

Consumer complaints spur pet food recalls because of Vitamin D toxicity

This story first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission

Natural Life Pet Products and Nutrisca, both of Saint Louis, are recalling certain dry dog foods because of the excess levels of vitamin D.

The voluntary recall was initiated after the receipt of three complaints from pet owners about viitamin D toxicity. The presence of excessive vitamin D resulted from a formulation error, according to the companies’ recall notices posted on the Food And Drug Administration website. Neither company provided product photos to the FDA for posting with the recall notices.

Dogs ingesting excessive vitamin D can exhibit symptoms such as as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. When consumed at very high levels, vitamin D can lead to serious health issues, such as renal disfunction.

Consumers should immediately stop feeding the following products to their dogs, according to the recall notice, and should contact a veterinarian if the animals show symptoms of vitamin D toxicity.

The recalled dry dog foods include:

  • Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food, 4 lbs. – UPC 8-84244-12495-7; Best by February 25, 2020 through September 13, 2020
  • Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food, 15 lbs. – UPC 8-84244-12795-8; Best by February 25, 2020 through September 13, 2020
  • Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food, 28 lbs. – UPC 8-84244-12895-5; Best by February 25, 2020 through September 13, 2020
  • Natural Life Chicken & Potato Dry Dog Food, 17.5 lbs. – UPC 0-12344-08175-1; Best by May 29, 2020 through August 10, 2020

The companies distributed three of the dog food flavors to retail stores nationwide. The Natural Life Chicken & Potato Dry Dog Food was distributed to retail stores in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and California.

Consumers who have purchased any of the products affected by this recall should dispose of the dry dog food or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions for either the Nutrisca or Natural Life products can call both companies at 888-279-9420 or send email to consumerservices@nutrisca.com for more information.

Human Salmonella illness linked to raw pet food

This story by Phyllis Entis was first published in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

A confirmed case of Salmonella Infantis illness has been linked to a raw pet food manufactured by Arrow Reliance, Inc., dba Darwin’s Natural Pet Products (Darwin’s), according to updated information released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The infected individual is one of 92 people infected with a multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis outbreak since the beginning of 2018 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The individual reported having become ill after household pets ate raw ground chicken pet food manufactured by Darwin’s. According to a spokesperson for CDC, this individual did not report any pet illnesses.

The Salmonella Infantis outbreak has spread over 29 states and hospitalized 21 individuals.

Outbreak victims reported eating various brands and types of chicken products. A single, common supplier of either raw chicken products or live chickens has not been identified, according to CDC.

The outbreak strain has been recovered from samples of raw chicken products, from live chickens, and from raw chicken pet food.

According to a spokesperson for FDA, the outbreak strain is likely related to the Salmonella strain recovered from an adult dog that had recurring diarrhea as a result of consuming contaminated raw chicken dog food manufactured by Darwin’s.

The raw pet food fed to the infected dog also tested positive for Salmonella.

Darwin’s initiated a total of five voluntary recalls between October 17, 2016, and March 26, 2018, after being informed that Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and E. coli O128 were found in some of the company’s raw pet food products.

CDC is reminding pet owners that Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria in raw pet food can make pets sick. Household members also can become infected by handling the raw food or when caring for an infected pet.

FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.