Canadian E. coli O157 outbreak linked to raw pet food

Four Canadians between the ages of 3 and 43 have beccome infected with E. coli O157 since March 2020, according to a report from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Two of the individuals were hospitalized.

All four individuals became ill following exposure to Carnivora brand frozen raw pet food purchased at various pet stores.

There have been no reports of sick pets.

The four genetically linked outbreak cases were reported from British Columbia (1 case), Alberta (2 cases) and Manitoba (1 case).

Carnivora brand raw pet food is manufactured by Riveriene Farm Ltd. o/a Carnivora Pet Foods, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and is distributed through retailers across Canada.

Carnivora has recalled the following six items, which may be contaminated with E. coli O157.

Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Chicken Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats (4 lb / 1820g bag; UPC 689076622271; Date codes 13 01 20 / 006, 15 02 20 / 042, 20 01 20 / 006 & 20 02 20 / 042)
Carnivora Brand Chicken Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit (25 lb / 11.36 kg Bulk Box; UPC 689076619677; Date codes 13 01 20 / 006, 15 02 20 / 042, 20 01 20 / 006 & 20 02 20 / 042)
Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Beef Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats (4 lb / 1820g Bag; UPC 689076622370; Date codes 13 01 20 / 006, 15 02 20 / 042, 20 01 20 / 006 & 20 02 20 / 042)
Carnivora Brand Beef Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit (25 lb / 11.36 kg Bulk Box; UPC 689076621076; Date codes 13 01 20 / 006, 15 02 20 / 042, 20 01 20 / 006 & 20 02 20 / 042)
Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Turkey Diet, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats (4 lb / 1820g Bag; UPC 689076623971; Date codes 13 01 20 / 006, 15 02 20 / 042, 20 01 20 / 006 & 20 02 20 / 042)
Carnivora Brand Turkey Diet (25 lb / 11.36 kg Bulk Box; UPC 689076624800; Date codes 13 01 20 / 006, 15 02 20 / 042, 20 01 20 / 006 & 20 02 20 / 042)

The approximately 1803 recalled units were sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and may also have been distributed elsewhere in Canada.

Pet foods manufactured for export to the USA, the European Union and other countries must be accompanied by an export certificate certifying compliance with the requirements of the destination country. Likewise, pet foods imported into Canada must be accompanied by a government certificate attesting to the safety of the products.

Yet pet foods manufactured in Canada purely for domestic consumption fall into a regulatory No Man’s Land and are not subject to ANY requirements under either the Health of Animals Act or the Food and Drugs Act.

PHAC offers the following information and advice for consumers:

If you have the affected product, do not feed it to your pet. Consumers should immediately stop using any of the affected pet food products and contact the retailer where they purchased the affected product for a full refund or exchange.
Wash and sanitize any containers, utensils and surfaces that the raw foods touched before using them again. This includes countertops, microwaves and refrigerators.
Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after feeding, handling or cleaning up after pets. Animals fed raw meat diets are more likely to be shedding harmful bacteria like Salmonella and dangerous strains of E. coli even when they appear healthy, compared to those fed commercial kibble or other cooked diets. Regularly clean surfaces that come into contact with pet food or pets.
When possible, store all pet food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and away from reach of young children.
If you suspect you have become ill after being exposed to frozen raw pet food, or pets fed these diets, and have symptoms consistent with E. coli O157 infection, talk with your health care provider.
The Public Health Agency of Canada does not recommend feeding raw pet food to pets, especially in households with young children, or individuals who have conditions that compromise their immune system that put them at greater risk for more serious illness. However, if you choose to feed your pet a raw food diet, it is recommended that you buy from companies that use meat-derived ingredients that have been prepared in sanitary conditions and passed inspection for human consumption. Also look for companies that have a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points protocol in place, which sets safety standards and practices, and helps to greatly reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency does not post recalls of either domestic or imported pet foods. Pet food recalls, if they are reported at all on a Government of Canada come under the heading of a Consumer Product.

It is only when a pet food has been linked to human illnesses or to widespread – and usually international – pet illnesses that Canadians learn about a contamination issue.

Recalls and Alerts: September 26 – 28, 2019

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

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United States

Allergy Alert: RONG SHING NY Trading Inc. recalls GANCHI NAIWEITANGPIAN candy (280g; Code 20190316; Best before 03.15.2020; UPC 6926106100083) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Tip Top Poultry, Inc recalls an undetermined amount of ready-to-eat (RTE) poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details.

Pet Food Safety Alert: FDA cautions pet owners not to feed any Performance Dog frozen raw pet food after a sample tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The sample was drawn during the course of an inspection of Bravo Packing Inc., Carneys Point, NJ. The affected product was identified as Performance Dog raw pet food, lot code 072219 (sold frozen in 2-lb pouches). As the retail packages of Performance Dog raw pet foods are not identified with a lot code, FDA warns consumers to avoid any Performance Dog product produced on or after July 22, 2019.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Jacques Lemieux (Grossiste) Inc. recalls Le Meilleur Enr. brand Yummies (130g; All lot codes; UPC 0 66577 01011 8) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Globe Meats Fresh Market & Grill recalls Globe Meats Fresh Market & Grill brand Regular Ground Veal (Variable weights; Sold from June 15, 2019 to June 17, 2019, inclusively; UPC Starting with 0201111) due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

Food Safety Recall: G. Brandt Meat Packers Ltd. recalls Brandt Extra Lean Kolbassa Sausage (250g; Best before 19OC19; UPC 7 73321 47480 4) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Metro Ontario Inc. recalls Metro brand deli trays due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Industry recalls various Tip Top Poultry, Inc., Reuven International, Inc., Sysco and AlimPlus Inc. brands of cooked, diced chicken meat products due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

Allergy Alert Update (Finland): Kesko Oyj recalls all Pirkka and Menu brand Pesto products due to undeclared peanuts. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Pedon S.p.A. recalls Pedon brand PREPARATO PER CREM CARAMEL / Cream caramel (130g; Lot 180720 – 080220; Best before 18/07/20 – 08/02/20) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall (France): Liroy B.V. recalls Mount Elephant brand Ananas en conserve / canned pineapple pieces (6×3.005kg tin; Best before January 2022) due to possible foreign matter (metal wire) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Carrefour recalls Carrefour brand Couscous (350g; Lot #92480231; Best before 24/09/2019) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Géantcasino recalls Fromapac brand BQ Bethmale cheese (200g; Lots 001010994, 001011949, 001009696, 001009004, 001012333; Best before 22/09/2019, 27/09/2019, 16/09/2019, 14/09/2019, 28/09/2019, respectively) due to E. coli O26:H11 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Industry recalls Fromapac brand Sélection Fromagère Sud-Ouest / South-west Cheese Selection (Various lot codes and Best before dates) due to E. coli O26:H11 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Metzgerei Nießlbeck e. K. recalls Metzgerei Nießlbeck brand Griebenschmalz Glas (95g; Best before 04.03.2020, 04.02.2020, 29.01.2020) due to foreign matter (metal wire) contamination.

FDA finds pathogens in Aunt Jeni’s dog foods. Warns pet owners

FDA is warning consumers to avoid feeding certain lots of two Aunt Jeni’s raw, frozen dog foods to their pets, due to possible contamination with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes.

The warning comes after the agency detected the pathogens in samples of the dog food analyzed as part of a routine inspection of the company’s production facility.

The recalled products

Aunt Jeni’s Home Made, Turkey Dinner Dog Food (5 lb / 2.3kg; lot 175199 JUL2020)
Aunt Jeni’s Home Made, Chicken Dinner Dog Food (5 lb / 2.3kg; lot 1152013 JUL2020)

The Turkey Dinner sample tested positive for Salmonella Infantis. The Chicken Dinner sample tested positive for both Salmonella Infantis and Listeria monocytogenes.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture issued a stop sale for these products on August 20, 2019, preventing their further distribution.

Aunt Jeni’s Home Made products are sold frozen, and are available on-line and through retail locations. The company is based in Temple Mount, Maryland.

The health implications

Salmonella can cause gastrointestinal illness in both people and their pets. In many cases, dogs may become infected and may shed Salmonella in their feces without showing any outward symptoms.

Common symptoms of Salmonella in people include diarrhea, low-grade fever, and abdominal cramps lasting several days. Dogs may experience vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), loss of appetite, and/or decreased activity.

Although many Salmonella infections are relatively mild and self-limiting, children and the elderly are especially susceptible to the effects of dehydration resulting from diarrhea.

Listeria monocytogenes does not often cause illness in dogs, but occasionally can do so. Typical symptoms may include mild to severe diarrhea; anorexia; fever; nervous, muscular and respiratory signs; abortion; depression; shock; and death.

Dogs that are infected but asymptomatic are still able to pass their infection along to human handlers.

Children, the elderly, pregnant woman, and individuals with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to severe symptoms as a result of a Listeria monocytogenes infection.

What consumers should do

If you have any of the affected product, stop feeding it to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it. If you have had this product in your home, you should clean refrigerators/freezers where the product was stored and clean and disinfect all bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with.
If you think you have symptoms of Salmonella or L. monocytogenes infection, consult your health care provider.
People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians. Veterinarians who wish to have pets tested for Salmonella may do so through the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) if the pet is from a household with a person infected with Salmonella.
FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal. This information helps FDA further protect human and animal health.