Tainted dog food sickens 14 people in U.S.

Health officials cautioned pet owners to wash their hands before and after handling pet food and treats and prior to preparing or eating their own food.

By

Agence France-Presse

Fri, May 04 2012 at 12:08 PM

Related Topics:

Pets, Viruses & Diseases

Dog catching a morsel of food out of the air

Photo: Oliver Lang/AFP

CHICAGO — Tainted dog food has sickened at least 14 people in the United States, health officials said on May 4.

"Humans can become ill by handling pet products contaminated with salmonella, and by coming in contact with pets or with surfaces that have been contaminated," Ohio's health department said in a statement.

Health officials cautioned pet owners to wash their hands before and after handling pet food and treats and prior to preparing or eating their own food.

They also recommended that pet owners wash their hands after touching or feeding their animals and to carefully clean any counters or surfaces used to prepare pet food.

"Because infants and children are especially susceptible to foodborne illness, keep them away from areas where pets are fed," the health department said. "Never allow them to touch or eat pet food."

A 4-month-old baby and a 74-year-old woman were among those sickened by the tainted dog food made by Diamond Pet Foods, which has been recalled from the market.

No deaths were reported, but five people were hospitalized.

You might also like:

Join the conversation

Comments: 2

Jo May 06 2012 at 11:37 AM

So if the bad food can make humans sick, what does it do to the animals? How about a list of the foods involved so they can be avoided altogether?

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Hey Jo Where Yo... May 06 2012 at 3:31 PM

Diamond Pet Foods of South Carolina says it has withdrawn several different brands of dry pet food because of possible salmonella contamination. The company says there have been no reported cases of infections, but has voluntarily issued the recall as a precaution. The bags affected were manufactured between December 9, 2011, and April 7, 2012. They include the following brands: Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Country Value Diamond Diamond Naturals Premium Edge Professional 4Health Taste of

.... More

the Wild Kirkland Signature