14 People Get Sick; Tainted Dog Food Recalled

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I don't think they were eating it... but you never know about some people.

An outbreak of a rare strain of salmonella poisoning linked to dog food has infected at least 14 people in nine states, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention said.

Diamond Pet Foods produced the dry dog food at a South Carolina plant. The company voluntarily recalled three dry dog food products last month, the CDC said in a statement on Thursday.

Infections were reported from October 8, 2011, to April 22, and five people were hospitalized. Cases were reported in Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The bacteria is salmonella infantis, a rare strain, the CDC said.

Salmonella infections often cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps and usually last four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment, but in rare cases it can be fatal.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...84407X20120505

People can get salmonella by handling infected dog food, then not washing their hands before eating or handling their own food, health officials said.

The South Carolina plant temporarily was shut down April 8. Diamond Pet Foods has issued four rounds of recalls for food made at the plant, located outside of Columbia, S.C., between Dec. 9 and April 7. The latest recalls were announced Friday.

"We took corrective actions at the plant, and today the plant is up and running. Our mission is to produce safe pet foods for our customers and their pets in all Diamond facilities," the company said in a written statement Friday.
[...]

Agriculture officials in Michigan found the strain of salmonella during routine testing of dog food on April 2 and health investigators noticed there was a possible link to the food made by Diamond Pet Foods. An ill person still had some of the food, and authorities were able to link the cases to the food, the CDC said.

The recall covers a number of pet food brands made at the Gaston plant, including Canidae, Natural Balance, Apex, Kirkland, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, Country Value, Diamond, Diamond Naturals, Premium Edge, Professional, 4Health and Taste of the Wild.

http://news.yahoo.com/salmonella-dog...012725663.html

[HeatherHabilatory]

I was like... There's that many weirdos eating dog food?!

I'd like to know how many dogs have been affected.

[Marv]

I was like... There's that many weirdos eating dog food?!

I'd like to know how many dogs have been affected.

I was expecting to read they had been eating it too. And it wouldn't surprise me if no dogs got infected - dogs seem to be able to stomach practically anything.

My dog once disappeared on a walk. My son called me to say he was at home. When I got home my son showed me a bin bag with a stinking, rotten, rancid, putrid sheeps head in it. My dog had returned home with this prize and it took my son ages to prise it away from him.

I tell you, I was GAGGING with the stench of that head and even after pouring disinfectant on it and putting it in 2 more bags I could STILL smell it! And my dog was fine and dandy - no sickness or upset or anything.

Dogs seem to be able to eat all kinds of crap and come out OK after it. Humans on the other hand are pussies and anything even remotely 'off' will have us hurling.

[Zazen]

Goddamnit, I've GOT to find a new brand for Bowie. That's like the second or third time Diamond brands have been tainted in particular. Maybe it's time to try out Blue Buffalo, that one's pretty highly rated and their last recall was in 2010.

For anyone else who's curious about doog food ratings: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

They also track food recalls there. Good site to bookmark if you're curious about ingredients--for instance, there's a Walmart brand that tested positive for the chemical used to euthanize dogs and cats. Guess what they're using as a protein source?!

[HeatherHabilatory]

Goddamnit, I've GOT to find a new brand for Bowie. That's like the second or third time Diamond brands have been tainted in particular. Maybe it's time to try out Blue Buffalo, that one's pretty highly rated and their last recall was in 2010.

For anyone else who's curious about doog food ratings: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

They also track food recalls there. Good site to bookmark if you're curious about ingredients--for instance, there's a Walmart brand that tested positive for the chemical used to euthanize dogs and cats. Guess what they're using as a protein source?!

A lot of dog and cat treats are made out of euthanized animals, too.

[Zazen]

A lot of dog and cat treats are made out of euthanized animals, too.

Yeah, that's why I'm glad I keep an eye on the above ratings site. I figure if they're using high quality ingredients in their foods, they're not likely to use euthanized Rover to make their treats. And I live pretty close to a natural dog treat bakery, so he's got a fairly good supply of 'Peanut Mutter Cookies' on hand =D

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Because of persistent rumors that rendered by-products contain dead dogs and cats, the FDA conducted a study looking for pentobarbital, the most common euthanasia drug, in pet foods. They found it. Ingredients that were most commonly associated with the presence of pentobarbital were meat-and-bone-meal and animal fat. However, they also used very sensitive tests to look for canine and feline DNA, which were not found. Industry insiders admit that rendered pets and roadkill were used in pet food some years ago. Although there are still no laws or regulations against it, the practice is uncommon today, and pet food companies universally deny that their products contain any such materials. However, so-called “4D” animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled) were only recently banned for human consumption and are still legitimate ingredients for pet food.

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?more=1&p=359

[Zazen]

Well that's a bit of a relief. Kinda takes the 'Soylent Green' aspect out, but pretty much promotes the idea that the safest diet would be cooking my dog's meals myself. We do that on the weekends >.>

[cubby]

I think I read somewhere a long time ago that the human digestive system has evolved away from being able to digest the type of things that animals eat. They can digest dead uncooked stuff because that's pretty much all they get, and we can't because we are higher functioning and cook our food now.

Hopefully that made sense.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I think I read somewhere a long time ago that the human digestive system has evolved away from being able to digest the type of things that animals eat. They can digest dead uncooked stuff because that's pretty much all they get, and we can't because we are higher functioning and cook our food now.

Hopefully that made sense.

Made total sense to me. I've seen dogs eat/gnaw on some pretty nasty stuff and never have any "after effects".

We always fed our dogs "dog food" from the store. We discovered with our rottweiler to never buy the cheap brands. Too much poop too scoop - normal looking shit but tons of it. One bag of cheapy stuff was all we needed to discover that problem. Other than that, none of our animals have ever seemed to be effected negatively by commercial pet food.

[Zazen]

Damn, I guess my dog is a total princess then, lol. He's got a sensitive stomach and in addition, has to take one allergy pill a day.... damn, just like me =/

[cubby]

None of my dogs were ever affected by any commercial food either. I discovered, with cats especially, that canned food equals the awfullest stinkiest poop, so we mainly stck to dry, except for special treats ocassionally.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Damn, I guess my dog is a total princess then, lol.

Nothing wrong with treating your dog like a princess. I am just one of those folks that loves dogs as dogs. Some folks treat them as furry people. Some are somewhere in between. Whatever works for one's life and the dog. Dogs don't care as long as they are loved, cared for, and fed. As it should be.