Dog and Cat Foods Might Pose Danger to Your Health

How to Protect Your Family From Food-borne Illness in Your Pet's Foods

Recently, I've noticed that more and more recalls have been issued for pet foods due to contamination with dangerous bacteria such as salmonella and e. coli.  Not only do these foods pose a danger to your beloved pets, but they also are a hazard to you and your family!  While salmonella in pet foods and treats can cause serious infections in your dog or cat, they can cause very real problems in people too--especially children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. 

Salmonella in pet foods and treats potentially can be transferred to people ingesting or handling the contaminated products.Toddlers are notorious for messing around with pets' dishes and (as unsavory as it sounds) they sometimes will even eat the dog or cat's food.  But even if you keep pet food well away from your little ones, you might still be at risk of contracting a serious infection due hidden bacteria in your animals' foods.  Luckily, there are steps you can take  to help prevent these food-borne illnesses that arise from pet food contamination..  Following the guidelines listed below will go a long way toward protecting your family and your fur-babies as well.

When Buying Pet Food

• Purchase products that appear to be in good condition, without signs of damage to the packaging such as dents or tears.

When Preparing Pet Food

• Thoroughly wash your hands for 30 seconds with hot soapy water after handling pet foods and treats.
• Wash pet food bowls, dishes, and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after each use.
• Do not use your hands or the pet's feeding bowl as a scooping utensil—use a clean, dedicated scoop or spoon.
• Dispose of old or spoiled pet food products in a safe manner, such as in a securely tied plastic bag in a covered trash receptacle.

Safely Storing Pet Food

• Securely cover and refrigerate promptly or discard any unused, leftover wet pet food.
• Refrigerators should be set at or below 40º F.
• Dry products should be stored in a cool, dry place—under 80º F.
• If possible, store dry pet food in its original bag inside a clean, dedicated plastic container with a lid, keeping the top of the bag folded closed.
• Keep pets away from food storage and preparation areas.
• Keep pets away from garbage and household trash.

Stay Alert

• Finally, stay alert to breaking news on product recalls by subscribing to Totally Recalled!  where you will always find  timely updates to help you avoid exposure to any known problems as they occur--such as this pet treat recall issued today!  

"Diggin' Your Dog" Dog Treats Recalled Due to Salmonella

Diggin' Your Dog Recalls Strippin' Chicks Pet Treats Distributed in Colorado and Nevada Due to Possible Salmonella Hazard

March 7, 2013 - Diggin' Your Dog™ announced today that they are voluntarily withdrawing one lot of its Strippin' Chicks™ Pet Treats produced on 8-30-12 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The sample was obtained in Colorado and the company has accounted for its distribution in Colorado of this lot.

No other Diggin' Your Dog™ products, lots, or production dates are affected.

The lot being voluntarily withdrawn is: Strippin' Chicks™ Pet Treats 5 oz Bag. Lot Code 250322 Use By Date: 2-23-14.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Animals with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some animals will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your animals have consumed the recalled product and have these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Diggin' Your Dog™ takes the matter of consumer protection and safety very seriously and strives to deliver only the safest products available.

Diggin' Your Dog™ is committed to providing the highest-quality pet treats possible to their customers. As a precautionary measure, Diggin' Your Dog™ will continue to produce all products in very small, handmade lot batches.

No Other Diggin' Your Dog™ products are affected by this voluntary withdrawal. Customers who have purchased this lot code are urged to stop feeding the product to their pet, remove the lot code from the packaging, and discard the contents.

A full refund, plus $1.00 to cover postage will be received by mailing the UPC and lot code to:
Diggin Your Dog, LLC, PO Box 17306 Reno, NV 89511.
All refunds will be processed within ten business days (plus postage time).

Diggin' Your Dog™ values the efforts of all agencies dedicated to the safety of the industry and is committed to consumer safety at all levels.

For questions or more information, contact Diggin' Your Dog™.
By phone at 775-742-7295 Mon-Fri 8:30AM - 4:00PM Pacific Standard Time
Email us at info@dydusa.com.

Turkish Pine Nuts Recalled due to Salmonella

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Announces Recall of Bulk Turkish Pine
Nuts Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Contact:
Consumer:
1(800) WEGMANS (934-6267)

Media:
585.429.3627
jo.natale@wegmans.com 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 26, 2011 - Rochester, NY - Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling approximately 5,000 lbs. of Turkish Pine Nuts sold in the Bulk Foods department of most Wegmans stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland between July 1 and October 18, 2011 due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The bulk Turkish Pine Nuts have been linked to an outbreak of illness from Salmonella Enteritidis, 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. Illness onset is typically 12 to 72 hours after consumption.

This recall only applies to Turkish Pine Nuts sold in bulk. Other pine nuts sold at Wegmans are not affected by this recall.

The recalled Turkish pine nuts were imported from Turkey by Sunrise Commodities of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

The recalled product was not sold at the company’s Northborough, Massachusetts store, which opened on Sunday, October 16.

The recall was initiated as a result of a multi-state outbreak investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov/salmonella). Wegmans is working closely with the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local public health and agriculture officials on this matter.

Wegmans has placed automated phone calls to customers who purchased the Turkish Pine Nuts using their Shoppers Club card alerting them about the recall.

Consumers who have purchased this product should discard any that remains in their homes and visit the service desk at Wegmans for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Wegmans consumer affairs department toll free at 1(800) WEGMANS (934-6267) Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 79-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts.