As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or months after they are sent. Business owners have 15 days to respond to FDA warning letters. Warning letters often are not issued until a company has been given months to years to correct problems.


Reconserve Inc.
Santa Monica, CA

A California food firm with a facility in Maryland is on notice from the FDA for unsanitary storing of ingredients that could contaminate food products. A Jan. 3, 2024, warning letter serves as a reminder that pet food products can contain dangerous pathogens and should be handled as carefully as other products.

In the warning letter, the FDA described a May 23 through June 29, 2023, inspection of Reconserve Inc.’s animal food manufacturing facility in Baltimore, MD.

The FDA’s inspection was in response to a complaint from a state regulatory partner about ingredient storage conditions.

During the inspection, an FDA Investigator found evidence of significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals, which caused the firm’s products to be adulterated. Additionally, this inspection found evidence that their product is adulterated in whole or in part because of a filthy, putrid or decomposed substance.

After the inspection, FDA investigators issued a Form 483 (FDA-483), Inspectional Observations.

Some of the significant violations are as follows:

Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Requirements for Animal Food

The firm’s animal food facility is subject to the CGMP requirements. During the inspection of their facility, the FDA Investigator observed evidence of significant violations of these requirements, which included:

1. The firm did not examine their raw materials and other ingredients to ensure they were suitable for manufacturing and processing into animal food, and they did not handle them under conditions that will protect against contamination and minimize deterioration as required.

Specifically, on May 23, 2023, the FDA Investigator observed human food bakery by-products intended for use as an ingredient in their (redacted) outside, piled on a gravel ground and uncovered. They stated that they started storing these received ingredients there around February 2023, after a fire occurred at their facility. The FDA Investigator observed the visual state of these ingredients to be deteriorated and containing foreign material such as: gravel, rocks, soil, mud, unidentifiable substances and unknown man-made foreign materials. The FDA Investigator also observed wild birds flying around, landing and feeding on the pile, and insects flying around and crawling on the pile. The pile is exposed to contaminations from weather conditions including rainfall, and rainwater runoff with chemicals from nearby trucks and industrial equipment. The firm’s Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety estimated this outdoor storage pile of ingredients to be (redacted) and the facility (redacted) of ingredients from this storage pile with newly received ingredients to manufacture animal food.

2. The firm did not effectively protect the animal food stored outdoors in bulk from contamination, including by (1) using protective coverings where necessary and appropriate; (2) controlling areas over and around the bulk animal food to eliminate harborages for pests; and (3) checking on a regular basis for pests, pest infestation, and product condition related to safety of the animal food, as required.

Specifically, on May 23, 2023, and June 7, 2023, the FDA Investigator observed an uncovered pile of human food bakery by-products intended for use in their (redacted) being stored outside directly on an uncovered gravel driveway at their facility. The FDA Investigator observed wild birds flying, landing, and feeding upon the pile; flying and crawling insects; deteriorated packaging materials and foreign objects such as gravel, rocks, soil, mud, and other unknown man-made materials mixed in the pile. In addition, the uncovered bakery by-products were exposed to contamination since Feb. 2023 from weather conditions such as rainfall and rainwater runoff and excreta from birds, insects, and rodents. The pile was approximately three feet high and (redacted) in size and consisted of (redacted) of bakery by-products.

3. The frim did not keep the grounds around their animal food plant under their control in a condition that would protect against the contamination of animal food, including maintenance of grounds to properly store equipment and remove litter and waste within the immediate vicinity of the plant that may constitute an attractant, breeding place, or harborage for pests, as require.

Specifically, on May 24, 2023, and June 7, 2023, the FDA Investigator observed discarded metal equipment, burned metal barrels, wood pallets, plastic packaging materials, and other trash stored against the outside wall of the manufacturing facility that may constitute an attractant, breeding place, or harborage for pests.

Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls Requirements

The firm’s animal food facility is subject to the hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls requirements. During the inspection of their facility, the FDA Investigator observed evidence of significant violations of these requirements, which included:

4. The firm did not conduct a hazard analysis to identify and evaluate, based on experience, illness data, scientific reports, and other information, known or reasonably foreseeable hazards for each type of animal food manufactured, processed, packed, or held at their facility to determine whether there are any hazards requiring a preventive control, as required.

Specifically, in February 2023, the firm began storing human food bakery by-products intended for use as an ingredient in their (redacted) outside, piled directly on a gravel ground and uncovered. They did not identify or evaluate hazards associated with the change in their process of storing these materials outside and exposed to the environment. Known or reasonably foreseeable hazards include, but are not limited to:

A. Pests such as wild birds, rodents, and insects
B. Packaging materials (plastic and cardboard)
C. Foreign objects, including but not limited to, gravel, rocks, soil, mud, metal, and unknown man-made foreign materials
D. Chemicals such as lubricants and coolants from trucks parked adjacent to the pile and from nearby vehicle traffic
E. Nutrient deficiencies
F. Unknown industrial chemicals from this and neighboring facilities

In addition, they did not identify and evaluate the known or reasonably foreseeable hazard of recontamination with environmental pathogens in the processing steps following the dryer, which they have identified as their control for pathogens in their ingredients.

5. The firm did not validate that the process preventive control they identified and implemented is adequate to control the hazard as appropriate to the nature of the preventive control and its role in their facility’s food safety system, as required.

The firm’s hazard analysis for (redacted) documents a CCP (critical control point) at the dryer step to control pathogens, which they determined are a hazard requiring a preventive control. Their hazard analysis states that they operate the dryer at an “average temperature of (redacted)” for a minimum of (redacted). However, they failed to validate the use of their dryer as a preventive control to significantly minimize or eliminate pathogens in their (redacted). For example, they were unable to provide any scientific or technical evidence or studies that determined whether the dryer operating at (redacted) at a minimum of (redacted) would be adequate to control pathogens, as required.

6. The firm failed to establish and implement written procedures for monitoring their preventive controls, as required. In addition, they failed to document the monitoring of preventive controls, as required. “Monitoring” means to conduct a planned sequence of observations or measurements to assess whether control measures are operating as intended.

The firm’s hazard analysis for (redacted) identifies a process preventive control at the “Dryer” step. They do not have written procedures for monitoring the preventive control that outline the parameters that must be controlled at the dryer step (e.g., temperature and time), the maximum and minimum values for the parameters, and the frequency with which these parameters must be monitored. Additionally, they did not provide documentation of any monitoring activities related to their preventive control at the dryer step, such as temperature records, to demonstrate that these activities consistently took place.

The full warning letter can be viewed here.

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Blue Ridge Beef is recalling certain 2 pound logs of Kitten Grind, Kitten Mix and Puppy Mix because of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes 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 and Listeria infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. 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.

On Dec. 15, the firm was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that one lot of each of the products were sampled and tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The firm is recalling all lots with the used-by dates between N24 1124 to N24 1224.

The products were distributed between Nov. 14, 2023 through Dec. 20, 2023. These products were packaged in clear plastic and sold primarily in retail stores located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The lot numbers and used by dates are located on the silver tabs at the end of the tubes.

Recalled products:

ProductSizeUPCAll Lot #/Use By Dates Between
Kitten Grind2lbs8 54298 00101 6N24 1124 to N24 1224
Kitten Mix2lbs8 54298 00243 6N24 1124 to N24 1224
Puppy Mix2lbs8 54298 00169 6N24 1124 to N24 1224

As of the posting of this recall, no illnesses have been reported.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to contact Blue Ridge Beef at blueridgebeefnc@yahoo.com for a full refund and destroy the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access. 

Recalled pet food should not be sold or donated. Do not feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers. Consumers should always ensure they wash and sanitize their hands after handling recalled food or any utensils that come in contact with recalled food.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has handled any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

About Listeria infections

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has handled any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

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Scientists have found a strong association between dogs excreting ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli and feeding them a raw diet.

E. coli, which can lead to food poisoning, is also the United Kingdom’s top cause of urinary tract and bloodstream infections.

Ciprofloxacin belongs to a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, which treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. When E. coli is resistant to antibiotics, infections are more difficult to treat, making patients more likely to be hospitalized and die.

The study examined ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli in 600 healthy pet dogs in 2019 and 2020. Researchers at the University of Bristol asked owners to complete a survey with details about their dog, the animal’s diet, environments the dog walked in and if their pet had been treated with antibiotics.

When dogs excrete resistant bacteria into the environment and home, there is the potential for these bacteria to be passed on to their owners and other people.

Microbiological and survey data showed that feeding uncooked meat to dogs was the only significant risk factor of those assessed, associated with excretion of the resistant bacteria in the dog’s feces, according to the study published in the journal One Health.  

Human infection risk
Matthew Avison, professor of molecular bacteriology who led the study, said: “Raw meat — whether intended for human consumption after cooking or sold as raw dog food — is likely to be contaminated with antibiotic-resistant E. coli. Cooking kills the bacteria, and good hand hygiene reduces the immediate risk of these bacteria being swallowed and getting into a person’s intestines.

“Choosing to feed a dog raw meat means a person almost certainly has to handle the raw meat, and our research is clear that raw feeding also means pet owners are likely to be interacting with a pet excreting resistant E. coli.”

Avison added that incentives should be given to dog food firms to source meat from farms with good antibiotic usage policies and to test meat for resistant bacteria before selling. Stricter limits should also be set on the amount of bacteria allowed in meat sold to be eaten uncooked, compared to meat cooked before eating.

Samples were collected from 303 rural dogs in 274 households and 297 urban dogs from 289 households. Fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli were detected in fecal samples from 22 rural and 35 urban dogs.

The study provided evidence for sharing resistant E. coli between dogs, humans, and cattle. Fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli from rural dogs tended to be of sequence types commonly excreted by cattle. Those from urban dogs mainly carried resistance genes common in human E. coli. 

Researchers previously looked at fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli from human urinary isolates and dairy cattle fecal samples in the south-west of England.

In 2022, two studies by the University of Bristol found dogs fed on a raw meat diet were more likely to excrete antibiotic-resistant E. coli in their feces.

Dr. Jordan Sealey, a research associate in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM), said: “Individual measures to reduce the risk of resistant bacteria being excreted by dogs include changing to a non-raw food diet or sourcing good quality raw meat that can be cooked, and then cooking it.

“Choosing to feed a dog meat from animals raised on farms in the UK, or other countries with very low usage of critically important antibiotics in farming, may also decrease the risk of them eating resistant bacteria with their dinner.”

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As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or months after they are sent. Business owners have 15 days to respond to FDA warning letters. Warning letters often are not issued until a company has been given months to years to correct problems.



Golden Natural Products

Forest Hills, NY

An import company in New York is on notice from the FDA for not having a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) for a number of imported food products.

In an Oct. 5, 2023, warning letter, the FDA described a July 11-13, 2023, FSVP inspection of Golden Natural Products in Forest Hills, NY.

The FDA’s inspection revealed that the firm was not in compliance with FSVP regulations and resulted in the issuance of an FDA Form 483a. The significant violations are as follows:

The firm did not develop, maintain, and follow an FSVP. Specifically, they did not develop an FSVP for each of the following foods:

• Dried Apricots Subkhani from (redacted) located in (redacted).

• Dried Cherry Plums from (redacted) located in (redacted)

• Noodles from (redacted) located in (redacted)

The full warning letter can be viewed here.

American Distribution and Manufacturing Co., LLC
Cottage Grove, MN

An import company in Minnesota is on notice from the FDA for not having FSVPs for a number of imported food products.

In an Oct. 12, 2023, warning letter, the FDA described an April 13 through May 12, 2023, Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) inspection of American Distribution and Manufacturing Co., LLC in Cottage Grove, MN.

The FDA’s inspection revealed that the firm was not in compliance with FSVP regulations and resulted in the issuance of an FDA Form 483a. The significant violations are as follows:

The firm did not develop, maintain, and follow an FSVP. Specifically, they did not develop an FSVP for each of the following foods:

  • Dry kibble cat food (poultry flavor) imported from (redacted), located in (redacted)
  • Dry kibble dog food (lamb/venison flavor) imported from (redacted), located in (redacted)
  • (Redacted) feed additive (diatomaceous earth feed additive) imported from (redacted), located in (redacted)

The firm must also conduct a written hazard analysis for each type of food they import to determine whether there are any hazards requiring a control, as required. Although they may meet their requirement to determine whether there are any hazards requiring a control by reviewing and assessing the hazard analysis conducted by another entity using a qualified individual, they must document their review and assessment of that hazard analysis, including documenting that a qualified individual conducted the hazard analysis. Specifically, during the inspection they provided the written hazard analysis from their foreign supplier for their (redacted) feed additive (diatomaceous earth feed additive) imported from (redacted). However, they did not provide the FDA with any documentation that they reviewed and assessed their foreign supplier’s hazard analysis, as required.

The full warning letter can be viewed here.

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TFP Nutrition has expanded a recall of its pet food to include 37 more products because of the possibility of Salmonella contamination.

The company first announced a recall of other pet food on Oct. 20. The new recall includes all dry dog food, all dry cat food and catfish formulas produced in the company’s Nacogdoches, TX, facility. 

For a list of the recalled products, click here.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People can also become infected from the saliva of pets. 

Healthy people infected with Salmonella can develop some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. 

Salmonella infections in people 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. Children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of Salmonella infection.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have may only exhibit 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.

The company is working directly with retailers to remove the impacted product from the supply chain.

Pet owners may also reach out via phone by calling 866-311-1323.

The dry dog, dry cat, and catfish food recall is an expansion of an Oct. 20, 2023, recall that included 50-pound bags of Retriever Mini Chunk Chicken Recipe with manufacturing dates from 3277 TFP to 3278 TFP distributed in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

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Canadian officials report that an outbreak of Salmonella infections in people has been traced to raw pet food and possibly contact with cattle.

The Public Health Agency of Canada just released information about the outbreak, which began in July 2020. Since then, 40 people have been confirmed to be infected with the Salmonella I outbreak strain 4,[5],12:i:-.

Thirteen of the patients have been so sick that they required hospitalization. Patients range in age from less than 1 to 91 years old. Almost half of the sick people are children 5 years old and younger.

The most recent person to be confirmed with the outbreak strain of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- became ill in September this year. The outbreak strain is extensively drug-resistant, meaning infections from it may be difficult to treat with commonly recommended antibiotics, according to the public health agency.

“Using a laboratory method called whole genome sequencing, it was determined that the same outbreak strain caused some Salmonella illnesses dating back to 2020 as those in 2023. More recent illnesses may (still) be reported in the outbreak because there is a period between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported to public health officials. The illness reporting period for this outbreak is between 4 and 8 weeks,” according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The agency has identified raw meat prepared for pets and contact with cattle — particularly calves — as the Salmonella sources. However, the agency did not report the kind of raw pet food implicated. The agency said that a single ordinary raw pet food supplier has not been identified.

The outbreak strain of Salmonella confirmed in the patients was found in raw pet food from the home of an ill individual. This outbreak strain of Salmonella has also been found in sick dogs and cattle, and some of the animals have died.

The sick people live in six Canadian provinces. Those provinces and the number of confirmed patients there are Manitoba with 1, Ontario 14, Quebec 21, New Brunswick 1, Nova Scotia 2, and Prince Edward Island 1. 

The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Health Canada to investigate the outbreak. The collaborative outbreak investigation was initiated because of increased reports of XDR Salmonella illnesses in multiple jurisdictions across Canada.

About Salmonella infections in people
Food and feeds contaminated with Salmonella bacteria do not look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone exposed to raw pet food or cattle who developed Salmonella infection symptoms should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

Raw pet food
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends against feeding raw pet food to pets, especially in households with young children or individuals with a compromised immune system, as they are at greater risk for more serious illness.

  • Harmful germs such as Salmonella and E.coli have been found in commercially prepared raw pet food and treats and can be found in many raw meats and products used in homemade pet diets.
  • Animals fed raw pet food are more likely to shed harmful germs through their feces than those fed exclusively kibble or cooked diets, even when they appear healthy.
  • When deciding what to feed pets, people should talk to their veterinarians first.

If you choose to feed your pet raw pet food, the following tips may help reduce the risk of a Salmonella infection:

  • Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after feeding, playing, handling or cleaning up after pets.
  • Wash and sanitize any containers, utensils and surfaces that have come into contact with raw pet food before using them again. This includes food and water bowls, countertops, microwaves, and refrigerators.
  • Use dedicated dishes and utensils to serve pets and wash them separately from other dishes and utensils.
  • Store all pet food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and away from reach of young children. Pick up treats and food bowls when your pet is done with them.
  • Raw pet food may need to be stored frozen or refrigerated. If thawing raw food:
    • Keep pets’ food away from human food
    • Please place it in a sealed, clean container that will hold any juices that may leak out
    • Thaw only as much as needed
    • Thaw on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator
    • Do not re-freeze food after thawing
  • Don’t let your dog lick your face, mouth, or open wounds.

Contact with Cattle

  • Always wash your hands before and after you touch cattle or anything in the areas where they live, roam, or eat. Wash with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
  • If visiting a farm or petting zoo, wash your hands when you leave animal areas, even if you did not touch the animals directly.
  • Do not eat or drink around cattle. Keep food and drinks away from animal areas.
  • Always supervise children around animals, such as cattle. Do not let children put their fingers or objects such as like pacifiers in their mouths when they are around animals or in an animal area.

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Mid America Pet Food of Mount Pleasant, TX, is expanding its Oct. 30 recall to include additional pet food products with best-by dates before Oct 31, 2024, because of Salmonella contamination. The company’s products are linked to an outbreak of Salmonella infections in people.

As of Nov. 1 seven people reported Salmonella Kiambu infections. Six of the patients are infants, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The patients are spread across seven states: California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama and Hawaii.

The pet food can cross contaminate surfaces, feeding bowls, utensils and anything else it touches.

“Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that a specific lot of Victor brand Hi-Pro Plus dry dog food is contaminated with Salmonella and has made people sick. The manufacturer, Mid America Pet Food, has recalled this and all other brands of pet food they make. See recalls for more details,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Recalled brands produced at the Mount Pleasant facility include: Victor Super Premium Dog Foods, Wayne Feeds Dog Food, Eagle Mountain Pet Food, and some Member’s Mark varieties with best-by dates before Oct. 31, 2024. Recalled products were sent to distributors and retailers throughout the United States. 

The best-by date is found on the middle top of the back of each bag. This expanded voluntary recall is being issued because some of the product lots tested positive for Salmonella through random and targeted sampling of finished product, including by the firm and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture 

The affected products include items on Dog and Cat Foods Lists found on the FDA website.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have may only exhibit 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.

Do not feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals. Destroy the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers. Always ensure that you wash and sanitize your hands after handling recalled food or any utensils that come in contact with recalled food.

Contact Mid America Pet Food Consumer Affairs at 888-428-7544 for additional information.

About Salmonella infections in humans
Food and feeds contaminated with Salmonella bacteria do not look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has been exposed to any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

One person has been hospitalized and six additional people are sick in a widespread outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu infections traced to pet food, according federal public health officials.

Six of the seven patients are children one year old or younger, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The patients are spread across seven states: California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama and Hawaii.

“Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that a specific lot of Victor brand Hi-Pro Plus dry dog food is contaminated with Salmonella and has made people sick. The manufacturer, Mid America Pet Food, has recalled this and all other brands of pet food they make. See recalls for more details,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

State and local public health officials are interviewing the patients or their family members about pets or pet food that the sick person may have come into contact with before they became ill. Of the five people interviewed, all reported contact with a dog or having a dog in the household, and three fed their dogs Victor brand dog food. One person reported feeding the Hi-Pro Plus product, and the other two did not remember the specific type of Victor brand product they fed their dogs, according to the CDC’s outbreak report.

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak,” according to the CDC.

The FDA reports that a retail sample of Victor brand Hi-Pro Plus dry dog food collected by the South Carolina State Department of Agriculture and analyzed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control matches the strain of Salmonellafound in the seven ill people.

The CDC has conducted whole genome sequencing of samples from the outbreak patients and it shows they all were infected with the same Salmonella, suggesting they were sickened by the same source. 

“This means that people likely got sick by touching this dog food, touching things like dog bowls that contained this dog food, or touching the poop or saliva of dogs that were fed this dog food. There have been no leftover Victor brand products from sick people’s homes available for testing for Salmonella,” according to the CDC.

On Sept. 3 one lot of Victor brand H-Pro Plus dog food was recalled.

On October 30, three lots of Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula were recalled.

On November 9, Mid America Pet Food recalled all brands of pet food they make.

For details and individual products for all of the recalls, click here.

The individual recalls are also listed on these pages with photos of the products included in the recalls:

The Food and Drug Administration is updating its previously issued advisory concerning Darwin’s Natural Pet Products after finding Salmonella in yet another sample of the company’s raw pet food.

The latest Salmonella finding concerns the following product:

  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 9802, manufactured on Jul 7, 2023.

Previously, the FDA warned consumers about Salmonella contamination in the following products:

  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs, Lot 9774, manufactured on Jun 13, 2023.
  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 9795, manufactured on Jun 28, 2023.
  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 9830, manufactured on Jul 19, 2023.

As of the updated Oct. 12 advisory, the company has declined to recall any of the Salmonella-contaminated products, which were manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc., doing business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, and sold online. 

On February 16, 2023, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Gary Tashjian, Owner of Arrow Reliance Inc., citing evidence of Salmonella contamination in the company’s finished products, the use of a non-permitted food additive (peroxyacetic acid) as a pathogen mitigation step, and Tashjian’s refusal to comply with federal requirements that it register with the FDA as a food facility.

If you have any of the Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections cat or dog foods listed above, stop feeding it to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it. 

Salmonella can cause illnesses in animals and people who handle their food. It can contaminate surfaces, feeding bowls and utensils.

Consumers who have had this product in their homes should clean refrigerators/freezers where the product was stored and clean and disinfect all bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with. Clean up the pet’s feces in places where people or other animals may become exposed. Consumers should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the product or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces.

eFoodAlert originally posted this story at https://efoodalert.com/2023/10/12/consumer-complaint-leads-to-salmonella-finding-in-darwins-raw-pet-food/

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According to a report, the findings of Salmonella in raw meat-based pet food in the United Kingdom have increased again.

The number of positives in 2022 increased from 2021 when the highest-ever levels were seen. This poses a risk to animals who eat the food and people who handle and prepare it.

Data comes from a report on Salmonella in livestock species in England, Wales, and Scotland, pet food, and animal feed collected by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in 2022.

In 2022, 9,225 human Salmonella cases were reported to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Wales, and Public Health Scotland. This is a 64 percent increase from 5,625 cases in 2021 and 72 percent higher than 5,362 cases in 2020. The top type was Salmonella Enteritidis, accounting for 25.7 percent of cases, followed by Salmonella Typhimurium, Infantis, Newport, and Mbandaka.

Pet food and animal feed figures

This past year, the number of Salmonella isolation reports from cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry increased by 22.9 percent compared with 2021, from 2,809 to 3,451. Compared to 2021, there was a decline in cattle and sheep, which was offset by increases in pigs, chickens, turkeys, and ducks.

Reports of Salmonella Mbandaka and Salmonella Infantis were more than double that of 2021 and Salmonella Enteritidis increased to 25 isolations from 11 in 2021. However, Salmonella Newport fell by 46.7 percent compared to 2021 and Salmonella Typhimurium levels were similar to 2021.

There were 801 isolations of Salmonella from animal feedstuffs in 2022, down from 835 the year before. They included compound feeds, feed ingredients, or products tested under Animal By-Products Regulations (ABPR). A total of 187 regulated serovars were found during 2022, which is up from 124 in 2021. These included Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Typhimurium.

There were 406 instances of Salmonella from raw meat pet food, higher than 295 reports in 2021. Overall, 123 isolations of regulated serovars were recorded in 2022, up from 71 in 2021. The most common were Salmonella Indiana, Salmonella Infantis, Typhimurium, and Salmonella Derby.

“Contaminated raw meat pet food, which does not undergo any heat treatment to deactivate pathogens, may represent a potential source of infection to both the dogs consuming it and people who handle it, especially if insufficient hygiene measures are adopted,” said the report.

Several multi-drug resistant strains, including resistance to critically important antimicrobials, were detected in dogs, cats, and raw pet food. Findings are relevant for potential transmission to people from pets and the risk of spillover to UK livestock.

Salmonella in animals
Isolations of Salmonella from cattle in 2022 declined from 521 to 430. As in previous years, Salmonella Dublin remained the most common, with 265 isolations, followed by Salmonella Mbandaka and Salmonella Typhimurium. Reports of Salmonella from sheep fell to 94 from 144 in 2021.

The number of isolations from pigs was 214, similar to 223 in 2021. Salmonella Typhimurium and its monophasic variants were responsible for more than 70 percent of all isolations.

The report said avian influenza caused significant disruption in the poultry sector in 2022, with altered biosecurity measures needed.

Including both national control program (NCP) and non-statutory surveillance data, there were 2,404 isolations of Salmonella from chickens in 2022. This is up from 1,671 in 2021. The main types were Salmonella Montevideo and Salmonella Mbandaka. There were 23 isolations of Salmonella Enteritidis in 2022 compared with nine in 2021 and 18 of Salmonella Typhimurium compared with 15 in 2021.

The estimated prevalence of regulated serovars in all three chicken NCPs was below EU targets of 1 percent for breeders, 2 percent for layers, and 1 percent for broilers, as it was 0.26 percent for breeders, 0.27 percent for layers, and 0.03 percent for broilers.

Salmonella from chickens increased substantially between 2018 and 2020. This was primarily the result of more findings in the broiler sector and is linked to the ban on using formaldehyde-based products in animal feed production since January 2018 in the EU and UK, as well as the emergence of strains that are more persistent in farms and hatcheries, said the report.

There were 188 isolations from turkeys in 2022, up from 140 in 2021. Salmonella Anatum was the most common, followed by Salmonella Kedougou. The NCP prevalence of regulated serovars was 0.1 percent for turkey fatteners and zero for breeders. This is below the EU target of 1 percent.

There were two isolations of Salmonella from rabbits in 2022. This is the first positive finding since 2016, according to the report. There were 60 isolations from horses during 2022, up from 45 in 2021. Salmonella was also detected in ducks, pigeons, cats and reptiles.

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