FDA issues warnings about salmonella-infected pet foods

The US FDA has issued warnings about several pet foods tainted with salmonella.

The agency is investigating six complaints of illness and death in animals that had eaten the recalled products.

There have been four recalls of and several complaints associated with Arrow Reliance Inc's Darwin's Natural and ZooLogics pet foods, manufactured over the period from 17 October, 2016, to 10 February, 2018.

The company recalled the products after being alerted to positive findings of Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes in samples of their raw pet food products.

In its 10 February, 2018, recall, its latest, Arrow Reliance/Darwin's Natural recalled ZooLogics Duck with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #41957) and ZooLogics Chicken with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #41567).

Meanwhile, four different pet food companies in the US have, over the past five days, recalled products over concerns that their food is contaminated with salmonella.

This potential contamination poses a threat to both - the pets that eat this food, and also their human owners who handle the food.

Salmonella contamination symptoms are much the same for both humans and animals, and include feeling lethargic, fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea.

The FDA said two people had picked up salmonella from a product called Raws for Paws. Typically salmonella infection in both humans and animals, produces symptoms that are experienced for 4 to 7 days. However they often clear up on their own. Hospitalisation and medical treatment is required at times, when the symptoms become too severe.

To prevent the spread of salmonella from pet food to people, the FDA recommends that people wash their hands after handling their pet's food.

People who have any of the products in their home should stop feeding them to their pet immediately. Also people who have come into contact with the affected products and are experiencing the symptoms, should see a doctor right away. Also pets that have consumed these products and are showing symptoms of a salmonella infection should be taken to the vet.