Article: Dry Pet Food and Salmonella in Humans - Page 1

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/dry-pet-food-and-human-salmonella/?hp

November 6, 2008, 1:56 pm

Dry Pet Food and Salmonella in Humans

Eight new cases of human salmonella infections linked with dry pet food have been reported this year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last year, the C.D.C. reported on a Salmonella outbreak in 2006 and 2007 that was traced back to dry dog food. The C.D.C. has identified a total of 79 cases in 21 states,according to the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The illness was tracked back to an Everson, Penn., pet food plant operated by Mars Petcare US, Inc. The company closed the plant in July.

Despite a widespread recall of foods last year, eight more cases were identified between January and October of this year. On Sept. 12, the company announced a nationwide voluntary recall of all dry dog and cat food products produced during a five-month period at the plant. Most of the cases were identified in young children who may have handled or put dry pet food in their mouths. Symptoms included bloody diarrhea, but none of the cases has resulted in death.

The recent illnesses involved three new cases in Pennsylvania, two each in Georgia and New York, and a single case in Texas. Ages of patients ranged from 4 months to 39 years, and none of the contaminated food in those households appeared to cause any illness in the pets.

Since 2006, at least 13 recall announcements involving 135 pet food products have been issued because of Salmonella contamination. However, none of those cases appeared to result in human illness. The current outbreak involving the Mars plant is the first documented case to trace human Salmonella infections back to a contaminated pet food plant.

The September 2008 recall involved approximately 23,109 tons of dry pet food, representing 105 brands. However, dry pet food has a one-year shelf life, and contaminated product might still be in the homes of purchasers and could produce illness, the C.D.C. warns.

The agency says consumers should use precautions when handling all dry pet food, treats and supplements. Canned pet food is unlikely to be contaminated with pathogens because the manufacturing process should kill bacteria. They advise washing hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap immediately after handling dry pet foods, pet treats and pet supplements, and especially before preparing and eating food for people. Infants and children should be kept away from pet feeding areas.

To learn more about which pet food products were recalled, go to the Mars Petcare US Web site and look at the chart on the bottom of the page. If you don’t find the answers you need on the Web page, call 1-877-568-4463.

Additional information on the transmission of Salmonella from pets to humans is available at http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/salmonellosis.htm.

Doen't that sucks we spend so much money on food for our pets and we can't even get good quality. I wouldn't mind paying double but knowing that is of high quality.

Very frustrating, telling us to wash our hands.  WHAT ABOUT THE ANIMALS EATING THE STUFF, i AM PAYING OVER $50 BUCKS A BAG FOR DOG FOOD................

I am telling you, I have fallen in love with the statment>                             

                                                                           We are Broken......

Mars is the producer of many of the dog foods on the market from Pedigree to ROYAL CANIN....IN A DIFFERENT PLANT THEY SAY...HUMPH...I BELIEVE ABOVE THE VERY BAG ON THE SHELF, a LIE EXISTS,      I BELIEVE ABOVE THE CASH REGISTER , IS A GREAT BIG SIGN, SAYS YOUR THE SUCKER, AND I BELIEVE FOR EVERYONE THAT GOES ASTRAY,  SOMEONE WILL COME TO SHOW THE WAY, I BELIEVE ,   I   BELIEVE...

SANG THAT SONG AT MY BEST FRIENDS WEDDING....TO A MAN

NOT A BAG OF STORE BOUGHT DOG FOOD..BY MARS.  GOOD THING THANKSGIVING IS COMING. I NEED A ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT.

You don't get this kind of problem with Pedigree Dog Food

I have the latest information on this from a listserve of professional infectious disease specialists, including the Centers for Disease Control in the US. A specific plant has been closed, in Evenson, PA. Specific brands were recalled and it was quite limited. However, because of a second group of infections, post disinfection of the plant, Mars apparently closed it down for good. The recall was initiated because of human infection, and no dogs have been found to have been affected. Further, it is important that people realize that ANY dry pet food or supplements or treats may be contaminated and therefore, it behooves one to use common sense in handling and hand washing. 

If anyone is interested in reading solid information about the situation, rather than fear mongering or misinformation that so often gets started on the internet in such instances, including how the link was made, email me and I will gladly forward the long post from the infectious disease listserve. Unfortunately, it is too long to post here. I am posting just the first three paragraphs, but for anyone concerned or interested, I would suggest you read the entire post.

---------------

Date: Fri 7 Nov 2008

On 16 May 2008, CDC [US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] 

reported on a 2006-2007 multistate outbreak of infection with _Salmonella 

enterica_ serotype Schwarzengrund that was associated with dry dog food 

(1). At the time of that report, a total of 70 cases had been reported from 

19 states, with the last case identified on 1 Oct 2007. Subsequently, an 

additional case was identified on 29 Dec 2007.

Epidemiologic and environmental investigations have suggested the source of 

the outbreak was dry pet food produced by one manufacturer, Mars Petcare 

US. This report updates the previous CDC report, provides additional 

epidemiologic findings, and describes additional actions taken by public 

health agencies and the manufacturer.

In 2008, 8 more cases have been reported, bringing the total number of 

cases in the outbreak to 79. On 12 Sep 2008, the company announced a 

nationwide voluntary recall of all dry dog and cat food products produced 

during a 5-month period at one Pennsylvania plant. [The list of recalled 

products is available at <http://petcare.mars.com/othernewsreleases.html>.