By WSJ Staff
From: Wall Street Journal
Contaminated dog food has been linked to 14 human illnesses in the U.S., Dow Jones Newswires reports today.
No, the people weren’t eating the pet food contaminated with a rare strain of salmonella, an FDA spokeswoman tells Dow Jones.
Rather, the germs can be spread to pet owners through the handling of 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 spokeswoman says.
The dog-food products being recalled by Diamond Pet Foods — which couldn’t be reached right away for comment — are Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice Formula, Diamond Puppy Formula and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula.
Human illnesses in Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey and Virginia have been linked to the outbreak. No one has died, though five people had to be hospitalized. The link to the dog food was found by state agencies that tested bags in victims’ homes and unopened bags, the FDA says.
Diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps are symptoms of Salmonella infection, the CDC says. The sickness usually lasts four days to a week, and most people recover without treatment.
Read more: Wall Street Journal
