Tainted dog food linked to salmonella

Atlanta, GA, United States (AHN) – Contaminated dog food has been linked to 14 human illnesses in the United States.

An FDA spokesperson reported that the sickened people were not eating the pet food contaminated with a rare strain of Salmonella, rather the germs were spread to pet owners through the handling of the contaminated food, improper hand washing or through the pets’ stool, “where Salmonella germs can be shed for 4 to 6 weeks after a pet is infected,’ the FDA says.

The dog food products being recalled are from Diamond Pet Foods and include Diamond Natural Lamb Meal & Rice Formula, Diamond Puppy Formula and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula.

Human illness linked to the outbreak have been reported in Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey and Virginia. Five people have been hospitalized.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. The sickness typically lingers for four days to a week and most people recover without treatment.

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