FDA Tests Pet Food Amid Reports of Owner Illnesses

USDA11 — FDA Tests Pet Food Amid Reports of Owner Illnesses

The Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning that the FDA began a year long nationwide effort to test pet food for salmonella contamination amid evidence it is sickening pet owners.

FDA investigators in October started taking samples of dry pet food, pet treats and diet supplements from distributors, wholesalers and retailers such as PetSmart, PetCo, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club and Target. The testing covers dog and cat food but also feed for rabbits, reptiles, birds, aquarium fish and rodents such as hamsters, mice and guinea pigs.

The FDA said in a memorandum released this week it is “particularly concerned about salmonella being transmitted to humans through pet foods, pet treats, and supplements for pets that are intended to be fed to animals in homes, where they are likely to be directly handled or ingested by humans.” The FDA pointed to CDC data that showed 70 people got sick from January 2006 through December 2007 in connection with salmonella-tainted dry dog food produced in Pennsylvania.

Typically Salmonella passes through eating meat or polutry, but it can pass transdermally. The CDC Cautions that it’s also possible to get sick “by putting objects or fingers contaminated with these germs into the mouth.”

There are steps you can take to protect yourself from possibly contaminated pet food. Wear gloves and/or wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your eye, mouth, or any food you may eat.

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FDA Tests Pet Food Amid Reports of Owner Illnesses

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