| |
MORE PET FOOD RECALLED AFTER SALMONELLA DISCOVERED IN WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is warning pet owners to check their pet food after an investigation by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) revealed Salmonella in some samples of dog and cat food sold at Wal-Mart.
WVDA reported the contamination to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Mars Petcare US and Wal-Mart. Mars Petcare US on October 27 announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of bags of Special Kitty Gourmet Blend dry cat food sold at Wal-Mart locations in 15 states, including West Virginia.
Commissioner Douglass said that the West Virginia investigation also turned up Salmonella in samples of Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘N Gravy dog food. He has issued a stop-sale order in West Virginia for both products and Wal-Mart pulled the products as soon as they were notified.
FDA is reviewing WVDA’s documentation regarding the Ol’ Roy products and is in contact with Mars about the latest sampling findings.
“The Department’s regulatory staff should be congratulated for their vigilance and hard work. They have provided a great service not only to pet owners in West Virginia, but also to pet owners in 14 other states,” said Commissioner Douglass. “I think it’s also important to note that Wal-Mart has been extremely cooperative in this matter and pulled both products from their shelves immediately.”
These products should not be fed to pets, and pet owners should dispose of them in a safe manner. Customers may return the empty Special Kitty bags to the store where they purchased it for a full refund, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. It is still unclear whether refunds will be offered for Ol’ Roy products.
The Special Kitty recall includes products bearing a “best if used by date” of August 11, 2009, on the back of the bag; a production lot code number beginning with “50” beneath the date. The following Special Kitty UPC codes – located under the packages’ bar codes – are affected: 3.5-pound bag, 81131 17546; 7-pound bag, 81131 17547; and 18-pound bag, 81131 17548.
The Ol’ Roy stop-sale order is for 50-pound bags with the lot number 1310292, a best if used by date of September 2, 2009, and a UPC code of 681131696319.
Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems.
Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, 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.
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. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, contact your veterinarian.
Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
|
