To check for possible salmonella contamination in pet food, the Food and Drug Administration is checking pet food for evidence salmonella contamination that is affecting pet owners. FDA is taking samples of pet treats, pet food and diet supplements from various retailers and distributors like PetCo, Target, PetSamrt and Sam’s Club.
FDA has expressed concern over salmonella being transmitted to pet owners from pet treats, pet foods and supplements. FDA is of the view that transmitted to humans when they fed the pets in their home.
FDA is not only checking dog and cat food but is also checking food that is given to birds, fishes, reptile, mice, hamsters and pigs.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, most people get salmonella contamination when they eat food that is contamination. People can also get sick when they put figures or object that contain these germs in their mouth. Salmonella contamination not only affects humans but also pets that eat contaminated food.
To reduce the risk of salmonella contamination, it is important that people wash their hands after they feed their pet. Also, it is important that adults keep kids away from pet food.
Recent data that was collected by FDA showed that about 70 people became sick from January 2006 through December 2007 in Pennsylvania because of salmonella contaminated dog food. The outbreak included a bacteria strain called Schwarzengrund that us resistant to antibiotics that are used to treat the infection.
Pet food industry is huge industry in United States and has a turnover of several billion every year. Last year about $8 billion worth of dog food, $3.7 billion worth of dry cat food and $2 billion worth of dog treats last year.
