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Mars Petcare US, Inc. Recalls Salmonella Tainted Dry Dog
Food 5-16-08
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting consumers that Mars Petcare
US, Inc. has recalled two dry dog food products because of the potential
contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.
The Mars Petcare US, based in Franklin, Tenn. is voluntarily recalling
five-pound bags of Krasdale Gravy dry dog food sold in Connecticut,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and 50-pound bags of Red
Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry food sold in Pennsylvania.
The FDA conducted tests on 10 samples, representing seven product brands from
the company. Each sample (same size and brand of product) consisted of 15
sub samples, for a total of 150 sub samples. Tests of the 150 sub samples revealed
two positive samples; one from the Krasdale Gravy dry food and another from Red
Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry food.
Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling pet food,
especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact
with the product or any surfaces exposed to the product. To date, there have
been 64 cases of illness in humans related to Salmonella Schwarzengrund reported
to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); however, none of
the reported cases have been directly linked to the recalled product that was
tested. The FDA is working with local and state officials, and with officials at
the CDC in the investigation.
Here is identification information on the recalled products:
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.
Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections
in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune
systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever,
diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare
circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into
the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections
(i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody
diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite,
fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals
or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms,
please contact your veterinarian.
Consumers with questions about the recalled product should call Mars Petcare US,
Inc. at 866-298-8332
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dog food causes Salmonella outbreak: What you need to know
The U.S. government released a document on Thursday saying that the 2006-2007
outbreak of Salmonella sickening 70 people was caused by contaminated dry dog
food.
Dry dog food as a source of Salmonella contamination is not common although
cases have been reported that people contract Salmonella infection from tainted
pet treats.
And officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still
have no idea how Salmonella got into the dog food although researchers are still
trying to figure out how.
The outbreak sickened an estimated 70 people mostly in the Northeast. Of the
infected, 40% were infants. Most of the cases were reported in Pennsylvania, New
York and Ohio. Sporadic reports came also from Alabama, California, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Carolina and
Virginia.
The dog food of concern was made by Mars Petcare at its Pennsylvania plant. The
company voluntarily recalled some bags of the two brands of food involved in the
outbreak, the CDC said.
The following is the common questions and answers cited from the CDC for those
who are interested in learning more about Salmonella infections.
What is salmonella infection?
Salmonella infection is an infection with a bacteria called Salmonella. Most
persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps
12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most
persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons the diarrhea may be
so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the
Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and
then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated
promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune
systems are more likely to have a severe illness.
What sort of germ is Salmonella?
The Salmonella germ is actually a group of bacteria that can cause diarrhea
illness in humans. They are microscopic living creatures that pass from the
feces of people or animals, to other people or other animals. There are many
different kinds of Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and
Salmonella serotype Enteritidis are the most common in the United States.
Salmonella has been known to cause illness for over 100 years. They were
discovered by a American scientist named Salmon, for whom they are named.
How can Salmonella infections be diagnosed?
Many different kinds of illnesses can cause diarrhea, fever, or abdominal
cramps. Determining that Salmonella is the cause of the illness depends on
laboratory tests that identify Salmonella in the stools of an infected person.
These tests are sometimes not performed unless the laboratory is instructed
specifically to look for the organism. Once Salmonella has been identified,
further testing can determine its specific type, and which antibiotics could be
used to treat it.
How can Salmonella infections be treated?
Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5-7 days and often do not require
treatment unless the patient becomes severely dehydrated or the infection
spreads from the intestines. Persons with severe diarrhea may require
rehydration, often with intravenous fluids. Antibiotics are not usually
necessary unless the infection spreads from the intestines, then it can be
treated with ampicillin, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or
ciprofloxacin. Unfortunately, some Salmonella bacteria have become resistant to
antibiotics, largely as a result of the use of antibiotics to promote the growth
of feed animals. No strain of salmonella is resistant to
Silverbiotics.
Silverbiotics has been used extensively in hospitals for treatment of
salmonella.
Silverbiotics is also a very effective treatment for infected pets.
Are there long term consequences to a Salmonella
infection?
Persons with diarrhea usually recover completely, although it may be several
months before their bowel habits are entirely normal. A small number of persons
who are infected with Salmonella, will go on to develop pains in their joints,
irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. This is called Reiter's syndrome.
It can last for months or years, and can lead to chronic arthritis which is
difficult to treat. Antibiotic treatment does not make a difference in whether
or not the person later develops arthritis.
How do people catch Salmonella?
Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including
birds. Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated
with animal feces. Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal.
Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, milk, or
eggs, but all foods, including vegetables may become contaminated. Many raw
foods of animal origin are frequently contaminated, but fortunately, thorough
cooking kills Salmonella. Food may also become contaminated by the unwashed
hands of an infected food handler, who forgot to wash his or her hands with soap
after using the bathroom.
Salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with
diarrhea, and people can become infected if they do not wash their hands after
contact with these feces. Reptiles are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella
and people should always wash their hands immediately after handling a reptile,
even if the reptile is healthy. Adults should also be careful that children wash
their hands after handling a reptile.
What can a person do to prevent this illness?
There is no vaccine to prevent salmonella infections. Since foods of animal
origin may be contaminated with Salmonella, people should not eat raw or
undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Raw eggs may be unrecognized in some foods
such as homemade hollandaise sauce, caesar and other homemade salad dressings,
tiramisu, homemade ice cream, homemade mayonnaise, cookie dough, and frostings.
Poultry and meat, including hamburgers, should be well-cooked, not pink in the
middle. Produce should be thoroughly washed before consuming.
Cross-contamination of foods should be avoided. Uncooked meats should be keep
separate from produce, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods. Hands, cutting
boards, counters, knives, and other utensils should be washed thoroughly after
handling uncooked foods. Hand should be washed before handling any food, and
between handling different food items.
People who have salmonellosis should not prepare food or pour water for others
until they have been shown to no longer be carrying the Salmonella bacterium.
People should wash their hands after contact with animal feces. Since reptiles
are particularly likely to have Salmonella, everyone should immediately wash
their hands after handling reptiles. Reptiles (including turtles) are not
appropriate pets for small children and should not be in the same house as an
infant.
How common is salmonella infection?
Every year, approximately 40,000 cases of salmonella infections are reported in
the United States. Because many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the
actual number of infections may be thirty or more times greater. Salmonella
illness is more common in the summer than winter.
Children are the most likely to get salmonella infections. Young children, the
elderly, and the immuno-compromised are the most likely to have severe
infections. It is estimated that approximately 600 persons die each year with
acute salmonella illness.
What else can be done to prevent salmonella infections?
It is important for the public health department to know about cases of
salmonella illnesses. It is important for clinical laboratories to send isolates
of Salmonella to the City, County, or State Public Health Laboratories so the
specific type can be determined and compared with other Salmonella in the
community. If many cases occur at the same time, it may mean that a restaurant,
food or water supply has a problem which needs correction by the public health
department.
Some prevention steps occur everyday without you thinking about it. In the
1970s, small pet turtles were a common source of salmonellosis in the United
States, and in 1975, the sale of small turtles was halted in this country.
Improvements in farm animal hygiene, in slaughter plant practices, and in
vegetable and fruit harvesting and packing operations may help prevent
salmonellosis caused by contaminated foods. Better education of food industry
workers in basic food safety and restaurant inspection procedures, may prevent
cross-contamination and other food handling errors that can lead to outbreaks.
Wider use of pasteurized egg in restaurants, hospitals, and nursing homes is an
important prevention measure.
What is the government doing about salmonella
infections?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors the frequency of
Salmonella infections in the country and assists the local and State Health
Departments to investigate outbreaks and devise control measures. CDC also
conducts research to better identify specific types of Salmonella. The Food and
Drug Administration inspects imported foods, milk pasteurization plants,
promotes better food preparation techniques in restaurants and food processing
plants, and regulates the sale of turtles. The FDA also regulates the use of
specific antibiotics as growth promotants in food animals. The US Department of
Agriculture monitors the health of food animals, inspects egg pasteurization
plants, and is responsible for the quality of slaughtered and processed meat.
The US Environmental Protection Agency regulates and monitors the safety of our
drinking water supplies.
How can I learn more about this and other public health
problems?
You can discuss any medical concerns you may have with your doctor or other
heath care provider. Your local City or County Health Department can provide
more information about this and other public health problems that are occurring
in your area. General information about the public health of the nation is
published every week in the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report", by the CDC
in Atlanta, GA. Epidemiologists in your local and State Health Departments are
tracking a number of important public health problems, investigating special
problems that arise, and helping to prevent them from occurring in the first
place, or from spreading if they do occur.
What can I do to prevent salmonella illnesses?
Cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly before eating. Do not eat or
drink foods containing raw eggs.
If you are served undercooked meat, poultry or eggs in a restaurant, don't
hesitate to send it back to the kitchen for further cooking.
Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately
after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry.
Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, the elderly, and the
immuno-compromised.
Wash hands with soap after handling reptiles or birds, or after contact with pet
feces.
Avoid direct or even indirect contact between reptiles (turtles, iguanas, other
lizards, snakes) and infants or immuno-compromised persons.
Don't work with raw poultry or meat, and an infant (e.g., feed, change diaper)
at the same time.
Mother's milk is the safest food for young infants. Breast-feeding prevents
salmonellosis and many other health problems.