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.

FDA, CDC investigating Salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs

Raw shell eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms (Cullman County, Alabama) are being blamed for 14 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses in Tennessee and Alabama according to reports from FDA and CDC.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 10, 2018 to August 7, 2018; two victims were hospitalized.

Thirteen of the 14 outbreak patients reported eating restaurant dishes made with eggs. FDA and state partners traced the source of the shell eggs supplied to these restaurants to Gravel Ridge Farms.

On September 8th, Gravel Ridge Farms recalled Gravel Ridge Farms Large Cage Free Eggs (Single Dozen and 2.5 Dozen Flats; Use by 7/25/18 through 10/3/18; UPC 7-06970-38444-6), and has ceased the production and distribution of the product while FDA and the company investigate the source of the contamination.

Recalled product was distributed between 6/25/2018 and 9/6/2018. These products were packaged in a cardboard container and sold primarily in restaurants and retail stores in AL, GA, and TN.

The following retail stores carried the recalled eggs:

Atlanta
Candler Park Market
Grant Park Market
Westview Corner Market
Sevananda Natural Foods
The Merchantile

Birmingham
Piggly Wiggly Clairemont
Piggly Wiggly River Run
Piggly Wiggly Crestline
Piggly Wiggly Bluff Park
Piggly Wiggly Dunnavent Valley
Piggly Wiggly Warrior
Piggly Wiggly Homewood
Western Market Mt. Brook
Western Market Rocky Ridge
Foodland Eva
Warehouse Discount Grocery Hanceville
Warehouse Discount Grocery Cullman 2 locations
Foodland Priceville
Star Market Huntsville
Manna Grocery Tuscaloosa

Consumers who have purchased these products should return them to the store for refund or discard the product immediately. If any consumers have Gravel Ridge Farms eggs in their refrigerator, they should be discarded, regardless of the date stamped on the package. Consumers with questions may call Dustin Smith at 205-363-1105 M-F Between 8AM and 4PM Central Time.

FDA Public Health Alert: Avoid using King Bio drugs and homeopathic products

Drugs and homeopathic products manufactured by King Bio Inc. (Asheville, NC) may contain high levels of microbial contamination and pose a risk to humans and pets.

In an alert posted today, FDA recommended that consumers stop using these products, and dispose of them immediately.

The FDA announcement coincided with a voluntary nationwide recall initiated by the manufacturer of all aqueous-based products for human and animal use. A complete list of recalled products has been posted on the company’s website.

This is the third product recall announced by King Bio since July 20, 2018.

Among the products included in the most recent recall are: Dr. King’s Children’s Cough Relief, Dr. King’s Chicken Pox Symptom Relief, Dr. King’s Children’s Ear Relief Formula, Dr. King’s Children’s Appetite Enhancer, Dr. King’s Attention and Learning Enhancement For Kids, Dr. King’s Cold Sore treatment, Dr. King’s Wart Freeze, and pet products for urinary incontinence and digestion relief.

The recall announcement and the associated consumer alert follow an inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility by FDA – an inspection that uncovered substandard conditions, including recurring microbial contamination associated with the water system used to manufacture the drug products.

FDA found several microbial contaminants during the course of its investigation, including Burkholderia Multivorans, a strain of bacteria that can cause illness in people with compromised immune systems.

What should consumers do?
The FDA encourages health care professionals and consumers to report adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of King Bio’s products to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program: