Pet owners warned of salmonella in dog food

(CNS): Fourteen people in at least nine states have been sickened by salmonella after handling tainted dog food from a South Carolina plant. Diamond Pet Foods have recalled a number of products because of the bug found at its Gaston facility. At least five people in America have been hospitalized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said although no pets have yet been reported sick. According to shoppers in Cayman the affected foods have found their way to local pet shops.

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

“People who became ill, the thing that was common among them was that they had fed their pets Diamond Pet Foods,” said CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell. “Our folks are really wanting people to be aware of it. They want to be aware that this is causing people to get sick because they may have product in their homes. For every one that isreported, there may be 29 others.”

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 plant was temporarily closed last month and Diamond Pet Foods has issued four rounds of recalls for food made at the plant,

Agriculture officials 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.