Diamond Pet Foods has expanded a recall of its dry dog food, taking precautionary steps after several of its brands were linked to an outbreak of a rare strain of salmonella poisoning that infected at least 14 people in nine states.
The company said it was now pulling a total of nine brands of its dry dog food from the shelves. In April, it began the recall by pulling three brands.
The salmonella cases were found in humans who may have had contact with dogs or dog foods prior to their illness.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention is still investigating the outbreak, but said cases could be due to a number of causes, including people touching the dog food and then handling their own food; cross-contamination through the use of dishes or utensils that came in contact with the dog food, but were not properly cleaned; or from direct contact with a dog carrying the disease.
The additional brands have been recalled as a precaution and none had tested positive for salmonella, according to a statement issued by the company on Saturday.
The products were distributed in 16 states, mostly along the U.S. East Coast and Canada.
Several other food companies, including WellPet LLC and Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc, have also recalled brands as a precaution.
Diamond first started pulling some brands of dog food produced at a South Carolina plant after salmonella 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.
Seven of 10 sick people said they had contact with a dog in the week before becoming sick.
And five of sickened people recalled the type of dog food with which they had contact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)and Prevention previously said in a statement.
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FDA info and Product Codes
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UPDATED: CORRECT PRODUCTION CODE INFORMATION
Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall of Dry Pet Food Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Batches of the brands manufactured between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 are affected
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 5, 2012 – Diamond Pet Foods today announced that it is expanding a voluntary recall to include batches of nine brands of dry pet food formulas manufactured between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 due to potential Salmonella contamination.
In April 2012, Diamond Pet Foods initiated three voluntary recalls of Diamond manufactured dry dog food. Although none of the additional products being recalled have tested positive for Salmonella, the company is pulling them from store shelves as a precaution. Diamond Pet Foods is coordinating efforts with federal and state health and regulatory agencies and decided to independently expand the recall to ensure the safety and well-being of customers and their pets.
The company stated: “We have taken corrective actions at our Gaston, S.C., facility and voluntarily expanded the recall out of concern for our customers and their pets.”
Brands included in the recall include:
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Country Value
Diamond
Diamond Naturals
Premium Edge
Professional
4Health
Taste of the Wild
To determine if their pet food is recalled, consumers should check the production codes on the back of bags that have a number “2” or a “3” in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 10th or 11th position. The best-before dates for the recalled brands listed above are December 9, 2012 through April 7, 2013.
The following graphic illustrates how to read the production code and best-before date:
Production Code FDE0204R2XTS (2X is highlighted) Best Before 3 – March – 2013
Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any issues this may cause consumers and their pets. Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods via a toll free call at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST. Consumers may also go to a special website, www.diamondpetrecall.com disclaimer icon, for more information. The company is working with distributors and retailers to ensure all affected product is removed from shelves.
Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have received a limited number of reports of salmonellosis, the illness caused by Salmonella. We are working with the CDC, but due to patient confidentiality, we cannot comment further.