Infants sickened following exposure to dog food have raised flags with the Food and Drug Administration.
On Thursday, the agency announced a recall of pet food, citing concern that products from one manufacturer have been contaminated with salmonella.
As of Nov. 1, seven people — six of whom were under the age of 1 — across seven states have been infected with salmonella, including one hospitalization but no deaths as of yet.
According to the FDA, five of the cases picked up the pathogen through contact with a dog, and three had fed their animals Victor brand pet food. A retail sample of the brand’s Hi-Pro Plus kibble revealed the same strain of salmonella for which the seven patients tested positive.
“People in this outbreak got sick from touching recalled dog food, touching things like dog bowls that contained the dog food, or touching the poop or saliva of dogs that were fed the dog food,” a statement on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website reads.
Mid America Pet Food voluntarily recalled the brands it manufactures — Victor, Eagle Mountain, Wayne Feeds and certain types of Member’s Mark — with best-buy dates for Oct. 31, 2024, and the FDA is urging consumers to throw away their contaminated packages of dog food in a secure container.
“Do not feed it to your pets or other animals. Do not donate the food,” the recall announcement instructed.
“Clean and disinfect all pet supplies and surfaces that the food or pet had contact with.”
The new warning is separate from Mid America Pet Food’s voluntary recall just last week, which came after three random tests of the grub from the facility tested positive for salmonella.
Salmonella can cause illness in both animals and humans, especially those who are very young, old or immunocompromised.
Pets infected with the bacteria can pass it on to their owners, even if they do not appear to be ill, the FDA explained.
According to the CDC, salmonella results in 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths every year in the US, although most people’s symptoms resolve on their own without medical attention.
Those infected with the bacteria may experience diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping lasting anywhere between 4 to 7 days. Symptoms, however, can begin in as little as 6 hours post-exposure, or as long as 6 days later.