Skip to main content

Babies Are Contracting Salmonella After Handling Pet Food, FDA Warns

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 10, 2023.

By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Nov. 10, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Two federal health agencies are investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to dog food that has sickened seven people in seven states, nearly all of them infants.

On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of Victor Hi-Pro Plus dry dog food, a brand tied to the outbreak, while the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention also issued a health alert advising people what to do to avoid infection.

Included in the recall are several other brands of dry dog and cat food sold by the maker of Hi-Pro Plus, Mid America Pet Food.

The company has voluntarily recalled all the pet food brands it manufactured with a best by date before 10/31/2024, which include Victor, Eagle Mountain, Wayne Feeds and two varieties of Member’s Mark pet foods. These products include both dog and cat foods and were sold in retail stores and online, the FDA said.

Six of the seven salmonella cases involved children aged 1 or younger, the FDA noted. Five of the cases reported exposure to dogs and three reported feeding Victor pet food to their pets. One person was hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

According to the CDC alert, those who have fallen ill were infected by touching contaminated dog food and dog bowls, or by touching the poop or saliva of dogs that were fed contaminated dog food. The strain involved in the outbreak, Salmonella kiambu, was discovered in the pet foods during routine testing, the CDC said.

To avoid infection, the CDC recommended that pet owners place the recalled pet food in a sealed trash bag before throwing it out, to avoid wildlife getting infected with the bacteria. Pet owners should also clean any and all surfaces that may have come into contact with the pet food.

Individuals should call their doctor if they start experiencing symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting, the CDC added.

According to the CDC, salmonella bacteria infects 1.35 million Americans each year, mostly through consuming contaminated food or water. Common symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

Though symptoms tend to resolve on their own, over 26,000 cases lead to hospitalization nationwide each year.

Infants are more likely to develop a severe salmonella infection because their immune systems are still developing, the CDC noted.

Sources

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, Nov. 9, 2023
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health alert, Nov. 9, 2023

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted November 2023

Read this next

Tips to Staying Germ-Free at the Gym

THURSDAY, July 4, 2024 -- Going to the gym is good for your overall health, but if you and the gym aren't practicing good hygiene you could still catch a nasty illness, an expert...

Pet Bearded Dragons Pose Salmonella Danger, CDC Warns

MONDAY, June 17, 2024 -- Lizards called bearded dragons may not breathe fire, but they can be a source of one nasty infection: Salmonella. So warned the U.S. Centers for Disease...

Salmonella Illness Linked to Cucumbers Now Reported in 25 States

THURSDAY, June 6, 2024 -- An outbreak of salmonella illness linked to recalled cucumbers has now expanded to at least 162 cases in 25 states, U.S. health officials reported...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.