Your Pet Could Be in Danger; Pet Food Recalled

Area veterinarians are urging people to stop using and return or discard certain Natura Pet Products food and treats after the company issued another recall due to potential salmonella contamination Tuesday.

This isn't the pet food company's first issue with salmonella.

On March 18, the company issued a voluntary recall due to the presence of salmonella found during routine testing performed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

On March 29, the company issued an expansion of their original recall citing the same reason and adding that the Georgia Department of Agriculture also confirmed the presence of salmonella.

Then, on April 19, the company issued a further expansion of the original recall.

Most recently, on Tuesday Natura Pet Products issued a press release recalling specific lots of dry pet food citing the potential for the food to be contaminated with salmonella after routine testing performed by the Food and Drug Administration tested positive for salmonella.

“Natura is voluntarily recalling all products with expiration dates prior to June 10, 2014," state the release. The affected products are sold in bags through veterinary clinics, select pet specialty retailers and online in the United States and Canada. No canned wet food is affected by this announcement.

Pet owners who have the potentially contaminated product should discard it immediately and stop handling it as it poses a risk to humans as well.

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.

Common symptoms of salmonella in pets include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, fever and abdominal discomfort.

“Any time you notice your pet is not acting right, you should take him or her to your family veterinarian as soon as possible,” said Dr. Neil Shaw, chief medical officer of BluePearl Veterinary Partner, with clinics throughout Tampa Bay. 

The affected products are:

• Innova dry dog and cat food and biscuits/bars/treats, all lot codes, all UPCs, all package sizes, all expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

• EVO dry dog, cat and ferret food and biscuits/bars/treats, all lot codes, all UPCs, all package sizes, all expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

• California Natural dry dog and cat foods and biscuits/bars/treats       all lot codes, all UPCs, all package sizes, all expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

• Healthwise dry dog and cat foods, all lot codes, all UPCs, all package sizes, all expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

• Karma dry dog foods, all Lot Codes, all UPCs, all package sizes, all expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

• Mother Nature biscuits/bars/treats, all lot codes, all UPCs, all package sizes, all expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014