Sunshine Mills, Inc. Announces Recall on Dog Food for Salmonella Contamination
Did you know you can catch Salmonellosis from your pet?
Well you can. Read below to understand just how this happens and how to prevent it, in light of the recent recall issued by Sunshine Mills, Inc. on its Nature’s Menu Super Premium Dog Food blended with Real Chicken and Quail for possible contamination with Salmonella.
As far as food poisoning is concerned, your pet’s safety is not the only issue when a contamination of their food, such as this, occurs. Although Salmonellosis is generally spread to humans through the consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella, it can also be transmitted from animals to humans. Many animals carry the bacteria in their gut naturally, sometimes since birth, and sometimes after consuming contaminated animal feed.
For both humans and animals, Salmonella is shed through the feces. In the case of animals, it is easy for the bacteria to collect on areas of their body such as fur, feathers, or scales, as well as in the environments in which they live. In the case of indoor pets, this can happen inside the home, making the transmittance of bacteria to humans extremely easy.
In the case of the recent recall, the possible contamination was discovered when the Georgia Department of Agriculture tested a 3-pound bag of Natures’ Menu Super Premium Dog Food blended with Real Chicken and Quail, and found it to be positive for Salmonella. Though there was no evidence of further contamination amongst the batch, Sunshine Mills, Inc. opted to declare a recall on all possibly affected products, which only includes this particular brand of dog food. The recalled products bear an UPC number of 7015514363 and 7015514365. For the full list of recalled items and their lot codes, visit the FDA’s website.
In animals, the manifestation of Salmonellosis can include symptoms such as lethargy, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, vomiting, or sometimes only a decrease in appetite, fever, and stomach pain. If you suspect these symptoms in your pet, you should contact your veterinarian.
