Seven states have issued warnings to dog owners about the salmonella contamination in recalled puppy food.
On Monday, Blue Ridge Beef declared that its Puppy Mix product, which comes in 2-pound bags, was being recalled because it contained the harmful bacterium. Labeled as “natural pet food,” the dog food comes in frozen logs that owners are advised to “keep frozen until ready for use.”
From August 6 to August 23, the following states received the recalled puppy mix: Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
Each package has the UPC code “854298001696” along with a lot number that either reads “08/06/N25” or “08/16/N25.”
A recall notice posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website on Monday states that “Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.”
“Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting,” it continues. “Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets 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.”
Owners of the recalled dog food were cautioned against giving it away or letting any animals eat it. Rather, consumers were instructed to either destroy the item “in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access” or return it to the store where they bought it.
According to the firm, a litter of puppies grew unwell after swallowing the food, which prompted the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to launch the recall. It was unknown if the recall was linked to any other infections.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, salmonella “is a major public health concern” that may infect “most animal species,” including pets like dogs and cats, who may act as “carriers” and transmit the virus to their human partners by “shedding” it.
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The most frequent cause of food poisoning in the nation is salmonella, which causes salmonellosis, an infection in humans.
According to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service, human symptoms of sickness can manifest anywhere from six hours to six days after infection.
Symptoms of salmonellosis include fever, diarrhea, and cramping in the abdomen. The illness usually lasts four to seven days.
Although severe cases, which are more common in youngsters, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, are rarely lethal, they can cause a variety of other symptoms related to the neurological system and joints.
