Phyllis Entis, author of the eFoodAlert blog, put together this thorough report on the Diamond Pet Foods link to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infection, which has sickened at least 14 people, and the expansion of its earlier recalls, which now includes all formulas and package sizes of many brands manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina plant between Dec. 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012. The recall includes some Kirkland brands and other dry dog food sold under several brand names.

This report originally headlined “Diamond Pet Foods, Etc., Recalls – 2012” is reposted with permission.

Updated May 18, 2012

Dry dog food manufactured in Diamond Pet Foods’ Gaston, South Carolina production plant has been linked to at least 14 cases of Salmonella Infantis infections in 9 states, according to a May 3, 2012 report from CDC. Confirmed outbreak cases have been documented in Alabama (1), Connecticut (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (3), North Carolina (3), New Jersey (1), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1). Five people were hospitalized.

Diamond Pet Foods has recalled nine brands of dry pet food formulas that were manufactured in Gaston. All batches manufactured between December 9, 2011, and April 7, 2012, are affected.

How to read the Production Code and Best Before Code:

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Several other brands, manufactured for third parties, also are in the process of being recalled.

How to read the Kirkland Signature Production Code and Best Before Code:

KirklandProductionCode2.png

How to read the Canidae Production Code and Best Before Code:

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The consolidated list of recalled dry pet food products (as of May 18, 2012):

– Apex Chicken and Rice Dog (40 lb. and 20 lb.) production code ACD0101B32; best by date 24-Jan-2013

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Canidae Dog Dry Dog Food, All Life Stages (All packages sizes; Best before date between December 9, 2011, through January 31, 2012; Production code must have the number “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Canidae Dog Dry Dog Food, Chicken Meal & Rice (All packages sizes; Best before date between December 9, 2011, through January 31, 2012; Production code must have the number “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Canidae Dog Dry Dog Food, Lamb Meal & Rice (All packages sizes; Best before date between December 9, 2011, through January 31, 2012; Production code must have the number “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Canidae Dog Dry Dog Food, Canidae Platinum (All packages sizes; Best before date between December 9, 2011, through January 31, 2012; Production code must have the number “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012, and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Country Value (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012, and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Diamond (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012, and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Diamond Naturals (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012, and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula (Samples, 6-lb bags, 18-lb bags; Manufactured Aug 26, 2011; Production Code DSL0801; Best before 26-Aug-2012, 27-Sept-2012 (manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Sept. 27, 2011), and 18-Oct-2012 (manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Oct. 18, 2011))

Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables (Best Before December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula (December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs (December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog (5 lb bag; Best by December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; March 12, 2013)

Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog (15 lb bag; Best by December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012; March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013)

Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog (28 lb bag; Best by December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012; March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013; March 7, 2013; March 8, 2013; March 12, 2013)

Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog (5 lb, 15 lb, and 28 lb bags; Best by December 10, 2012; December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012)

Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog (5 lb bag; Best by December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012)

Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog (15 lb and 28 lb bags; Best by December 9, 2012; December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012)

Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog (5 lb bag; Best by December 9, 2012)

Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites (28 lb bag; Best by December 12, 2012; December 20, 2012; December 21, 2012)

Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites (5 lb and 12.5 lb bags; Best by December 21, 2012)

Premium Edge (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012, and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Professional (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012, and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

4Health (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012, and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food (4-lb pkg; Batch code starting with SGL1201; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750050)

Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food (15-lb bag; Batch code starting with SGL1201; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750067)

Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food (28.5-lb bag; Batch code starting with SGL1201; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750081)

Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food (4-lb pkg; Batch code starting with SGB1201; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750005)

Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food (15-lb bag; Batch code starting with SGB1201; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750012)

Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food (33-lb bag; Batch code starting with SGB1201; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750029)

Taste of the Wild (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012, and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th or 10th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)

Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy (15 lb. and 30 lb. bags and 5 oz. sample bags; best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013)

Product distribution by brand (as of May 8, 2012)

Apex

Distributed only in South Carolina

Canidae

Distributed in: Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul 

Distributed in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia).

Country Value

Distributed in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia).

Diamond

Distributed in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia).

Diamond Naturals

Distributed in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia).

Kirkland Signature

Distributed in: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Natural Balance

Distributed in: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Canada.

NOT distributed in: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Premium Edge

Distributed in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia).

Professional

Distributed in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia).

4Health

Distributed in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia).

Solid Gold

Distributed in: USA and Canada from between January and May 2012.

Taste of the Wild

Distributed in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia).

Information Provided by Retailers (as of May 9, 2012)

Where the information was posted online, I have provided a link. Other information was obtained as a result of email correspondence between eFoodAlert and the retailer.

Best Online Pets Supply.– This retailer is NOT affected by the recalls.

Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.– Kirkland Signature products (including Nature’s Domain) sold in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.

Costco Wholesale Corporation.- Kirkland Signature is a Costco store brand. The retailer has not specified the locations of Costco stores that were supplied with recalled Kirkland Signature dry pet foods.

Muttropolis.– The only item on the recall list carried by Muttropolis is the Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Bison. Customers who purchased this product can call 888-688-8799.

PetSmart.- The only recalled item carried by PetSmart is Wellness Complete Health Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy (15-lb bag with Best before dates of January 9, 2013, and January 10, 2013; 30-lb bag with Best before dates of January 10, 2013, and January 11, 2013).

VetDepot.– None of the products carried by VetDepot have been affected by the Diamond recalls.

West Coast Pet Supply.– Located in California and receives all of its shipments from Diamond Pet Foods’ California plant. West Coast Pet Supply is NOT affected by the recalls.

Whole Foods Market.– Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food, 5 lbs. UPC 7 23633 80855 2; Lot code NBV1201; Best by Dec 9, 2012. The company did not specify the locations of stores that were supplied with the recalled product.

Recall and Outbreak Investigation Notices

Diamond Pet Foods – Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice (April 6, 2012)

Diamond Pet Foods – Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula (April 26, 2012)

ODA Issues Health Alert, Urges Caution when Handling Pet Food (April 26, 2012)

Diamond Pet Foods – Diamond Puppy Formula (April 30, 2012)

Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infantis Infections Linked to Dry Dog Food (posted May 3, 2012)

Investigation of a Multi-state Outbreak of Salmonella Infantis Linked to Dry Dog Food (posted May 3, 2012)

Two Human Illnesses in Ohio Linked to Salmonella in Recalled Dog Food (May 4, 2012)

Natural Balance Pet Foods – certain dry dog food formulas (May 4, 2012)

WellPet LLC – Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy (May 4, 2012)

Canidae Pet Foods Recalls Four Dry Pet Food Formulas (May 4, 2012)

Apex Pet Foods Initiates Voluntary Recall of Dry Pet Food (May 4, 2012)

– Human Illness in Connecticut Linked to Salmonella in Recalled Dog Food (May 7, 2012)

– Georgia Department of Agriculture – Diamond Pet Foods expands recall due to Salmonella contamination (May 7, 2012)

– Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc. (May 8, 2012)

– Dry Dog Food Recall Linked to Salmonella Outbreak Expanded to Maine (May 9, 2012)

eFoodAlert Stories

Contaminated Kibble Sickens 14 People (posted May 3, 2012)

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Recall (posted May 5, 2012)

Diamond Pet Foods Recalls: Consumers Want Answers (posted May 7, 2012)

Advice to Consumers and Families with Pets

CDC offers this advice to pet owners:

– Consumers should check their homes for recalled dog food products and discard them promptly. Consumers with questions about recalled dog food may contact Diamond Pet Foods at telephone number (800) 442-0402 or visit www.diamondpetrecall.com.

– Follow the tips listed on Salmonella from Dry Pet Food and Treats to help prevent an infection with Salmonella from handling dry pet food and treats.

– People who think they might have become ill after contact with dry pet food or with an animal that has eaten dry pet food should consult their health care providers. Infants, older adults, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

– People who think their animal might have become ill after eating dry pet food should consult their veterinary-care providers.

– Read Additional Information for Pet Owners to learn the signs and symptoms of salmonellosis in dogs and cats, and to understand how to deal with possible Salmonella illness in your pet.

Also, be aware that dogs may be infected with Salmonella – and may shed the bacteria in their stool – without showing any outward symptoms of illness. If your pet has consumed a Diamond Pet Foods dry dog food, be especially careful to wash your hands after handling it, and supervise closely any interaction between children and your pet.