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Recall: 4 Companies’ Chews, Treats, Raw Food Raise Salmonella Concerns

Colleen Murphy//February 13, 2018//

Recall: 4 Companies’ Chews, Treats, Raw Food Raise Salmonella Concerns

Colleen Murphy //February 13, 2018//

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UPDATED MARCH 27:

The FDA posted the following update to its website on March 26: The FDA has detected Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O128 and Salmonella in samples of raw pet foods manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc. The samples were collected by the FDA to determine whether the firm had addressed an ongoing pattern of pathogenic contamination in Darwin’s and ZooLogics raw pet foods.The firm has recalled the affected products.

  • The FDA is alerting pet owners to a history of five recalls of and multiple complaints associated with Darwin’s Natural Selections and Darwin’s ZooLogics pet foods, manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc., dba Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, over the period from October 17, 2016 to March 26, 2018. In each instance, the company recalled these products after being alerted to positive findings of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O128, Salmonellaand/or Listeria monocytogenes in samples of their raw pet food products.
  • In its most recent recall, on March 26, 2018, Arrow Reliance/Darwin’s Natural recalled ZooLogics Chicken with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #43887 and 44037), ZooLogics Turkey with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #44127), and ZooLogics Duck with Organic Vegetables Meals for Dogs (Lot # 44147) after FDA found that the products tested positive for Salmonella and/or Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.  These products have the potential to cause illness and death in humans and animals. The company states that it only sells its products online through direct-to-consumer sales.
  • Although there are no reports of illnesses currently identified in connection with the most recent recall on March 26, 2018, the FDA has investigated six complaints of illness and/or death in animals that have eaten previously recalled Darwin’s Natural Selections and/or Darwin’s ZooLogics products.
  • Arrow Reliance/Darwin’s Natural has notified its customers directly of the recalls.
  • This issue is of particular public health importance because Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can make both people and animals sick, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O128 can cause serious illness in humans.

The company’s recall on the FDA’s site can be found here.

UPDATED FEB. 14:

 A fourth pet food company has been recalled for potential salmonella contamination.

 On February 10, 2018, Arrow Reliance/Darwin’s Natural recalled ZooLogics Duck with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #41957) and ZooLogics Chicken with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #41567) because the products may be contaminated with salmonella. This was confirmed by Pet Age with a Darwin’s Pet customer service representative.

According to the FDA, “the recall was triggered by a complaint of an adult dog that had recurring diarrhea over a nine-month period. The dog tested positive for Salmonella from initial testing by the veterinarian and by follow-up testing by the FDA’s Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN). The Darwin’s Natural raw pet food that the dog had been fed was also positive for salmonella.

“Arrow Reliance/Darwin’s Natural is aware of the dog’s illness and the positive results and initiated a recall by directly notifying its customers via email. The firm has not issued a public recall notice.”

 The FDA announced on its site February 13 and confirmed with Pet Age that it, along with the Washington Department of Agriculture, is investigating a pattern of salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination in raw pet foods manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc.

 According to the FDA, “between October 17, 2016, and February 10, 2018, there have been four recalls of and multiple complaints associated with Darwin’s Natural and ZooLogics pet foods, manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc after positive findings of salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes in samples of their raw pet food products.” The FDA says it has investigated six complaints of illness and death in animals that have eaten the recalled products.

 “The FDA has a zero-tolerance policy for salmonella or other pathogenic bacteria in all pet food, meaning the agency will take action, as appropriate, against any pet food found to be contaminated with the harmful bacteria,” the organization said.

Pet Age reached out to Darwin’s Pet for comment and will update this story if/when we hear back.

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Raws For Paws, Redbarn Pet Products and Smokehouse Pet Products Inc have all recalled certain products because of their potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Pet Age has reached out to the FDA to see if the three recalls are somehow linked. Raws for Paws’ potential for contamination was noted after testing by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture while both Redbarn and Smokehouse’s potential contamination was found through testing by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The three companies, including Redbarn who said it does not share the same supplier with the other two companies, all said they do not believe that the three problems are related.

While no illnesses in connection with this problem have been reported by Redbarn or Smokehouse customers, two children fell ill after coming in contact with a contaminated Raws for Paws product.

According to the FDA, “the Minnesota Department of Health reports that two children in a single household became sick from S. Reading. Testing performed by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture demonstrated that the same strain of S. Reading found in the ill children was also found in four samples of Raws for Paws Ground Turkey Food for Pets that was used to feed the family dog.”

Christofersen Meats Company, Inc. recalled the Raws for Paws product on February 5, 2018, and began directly notifying its customers on the same day.

The illnesses that are linked to Raws for Paws Ground Turkey Food for Pets has spurred the FDA, along with the Minnesota departments of Agriculture and Health, to investigate the outbreak because of its public health importance, being that Salmonella is potential hazardous to both human and animal health.

We asked the FDA if a potential link between the three recalls is something that will be a part of its Raws for Paws outbreak investigation. We have yet to hear back and will update this article if/when more information becomes available.

  

Raws For Paws

The following was posted on the FDA’s website on February 8 and confirmed by Pet Age with a Raws for Paws customer service representative: Raws for Paws

Raws for Paws of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is recalling approximately 4,000 pounds of its five-pound and one-pound chubs of Ground Turkey Pet Food because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. 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.

The recalled Ground Turkey Pet Food was distributed throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa directly to consumers and through online mail orders.

The recalled product is packaged into one-pound and five-pound sealed plastic tubes, also known as chubs. The chubs are packaged into regular Turkey Pet Food cases and Pet Food Combo Pack cases, which contain a variety of pet food products. The products in question have case codes of 9900008, 9900009, 9900014, and 9900015. The manufacture date of Turkey Pet Food cases is 10/12/2017, and the manufacture dates of Combo Pack cases are between 10/12/2017 and 2/2/2018.

Two illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after testing by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) revealed the presence of Salmonella in some packages of Turkey Pet Food.

Production of the product has been suspended while MDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.

Consumers who have purchased Turkey Pet Food should discontinue the use of the product and contact Raws for Paws to determine if their product is subject to this recall and more information about disposal or return instructions. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 612-465-0372.

 

Redbarn Pet Products

Redbarn posted about the recall on its site. The following was posted on the FDA’s website on February 9 and confirmed by Pet Age with a Redbarn customer service representative:207016-Bully Stick 7 inch 3pk-Packaged Front-Feb 2018-CMYK300dpi

With an extreme abundance of caution, and with the care and concern of pets top of mind, Redbarn Pet Products, LLC of Long Beach, California, is voluntarily recalling a single product, Redbarn’s 7-inch Bully Stick three pack, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. No illnesses, injuries or complaints have been reported.

The recalled products were distributed in pet specialty retail stores. Affected product comes in a 2.4-ounce, green plastic bag marked with an expiration date of 112120ABC stamped on the side. The product UPC is #7 85184 25105 8.

Redbarn takes the safety of pets and pet parents seriously. As company President Jeff Sutherland explained, “On 2/5/2018, we were notified by the Colorado Department of Agriculture that a single sample collected from a retail location detected Salmonella. At Redbarn, we test every product lot before it leaves our manufacturing plant. This lot code, expiry date 112120ABC, was tested both at our Redbarn lab and by a third-party testing facility. Those tests were negative for salmonella or pathogens. Despite not being able to replicate these test results or receiving any negative reports from customers regarding these chews, we feel the best course of action is to recall this lot code of the product and keep our customers safe.”

Consumers are encouraged to check the lot code to see if their product was affected. Pet owners who have this product matching this lot code in their homes are urged to discontinue use of the product. Consumers who purchased 7-inch Bully Stick multipacks with the affected lot code are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. 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. Again, no illnesses, injuries or complaints have been reported.

Family-owned Redbarn takes the safety of our product, pets and customers as a number one concern. Redbarn employs an extensive Quality Assurance team that run over 400 safety tests on their products every week. Products like the 7-inch bully sticks are tested multiple times for bacteria like Salmonella, coliforms and enteros. A product is declared safe to ship only after it tests negatively for these bacteria and other pathogens. As Sutherland explained “In issuing this voluntary recall, in conjunction with the FDA, we are standing by our core values of quality and integrity. At Redbarn, we do the right thing for our customers. That means that we hold ourselves to the highest safety and quality assurance standards and take all precautions to prevent situations like a recall from happening.”

Consumers with questions may contact the company via email at [email protected] or by phone at at 1-800-775-3849, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PST.

 

Smokehouse Pet Products Inc

Smokehouse posted about the recall on its site. The following was posted on the FDA’s website on February 8 and confirmed by Pet Age with a Smokehouse Pet Products customer representative:Smokehouse

Smokehouse Pet Products, Inc. of Sun Valley, California, is recalling four-ounce bags of dog treats labeled as “Beefy Munchies,” because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. 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.

“Beefy Munchies” was distributed in Washington, Michigan, North Carolina and Colorado through distributors selling to various retailers.

The product comes in four-ounce bags marked with UPC 78565857957 and lot 449294 and with a best used by date of 10/25/19 stamped on the back.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine sampling and testing by the Colorado Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Salmonella in two four-ounce packages of “Beefy Munchies.”

Consumers who have purchased 4-ounce packages of “Beefy Munchies” should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Smokehouse Pet Products, Inc. at 1-877-699-7387, Monday through Friday 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. PST.