Pet Food Seen as Human Salmonella Risk

You don't want Spike getting salmonella from his dog food -- and you most certainly don't want to get it yourself.  Yet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it's increasingly concerned about humans getting sick from exposure to contaminated pet food.

The agency says it is increasing its inspections of dry pet food and pet treats from distributors, wholesalers and retailers.  There've been numerous recalls of pet food tainted by salmonella and other contaminants in recent years.

While humans usually get salmonella poisoning by eating contaminated food, it's also possible to pick up the disease by handling contaminated pet food.  In January 2006, at least 70 people were sickened by selmonella-tainted pet food from a Pennsylvania plant.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says pet owners should be sure to wash their hands after feeding their pets.  

What to do

Here are some more pointers from the CDC:

Purchase Tip

• Purchase products (canned or bagged) with no visible signs of damage to the packaging, such as dents, tears, or discolorations.

Preparation Tips

• Washing hands is the most important step to prevent illness. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with water and soap right after handling pet food and treats, and especially before preparing, serving or eating food, drinks or preparing baby bottles
• Preferably, people should feed their pet in areas other than the kitchen.
• Wash pet food bowls, dishes and scooping utensils with soap and hot water regularly. Avoid washing these items in the kitchen sink or bathtubs to prevent cross-contamination. In households where there is no alternative, the sink area should be adequately sanitized after these items have been cleaned and removed.
• Infants should not be bathed in kitchen sinks because of the risk of cross-contamination.
• Do not use the pet’s feeding bowl as a scooping utensil – use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon, or cup.

Storage Tips

• Pet food should not be handled or stored in areas where food for humans is prepared.
• If possible, store dry pet food in its original bag inside a clean, dedicated plastic container with a lid, keeping the top of the bag folded or closed.
• Promptly refrigerate or discard unused, leftover wet pet food and containers (e.g., cans, pouches). Refrigerating foods quickly prevents the growth of most harmful bacteria. Refrigerators should be set at 40 degrees F. The accuracy of the setting should be checked occasionally with a refrigerator thermometer.
• Dry pet food and pet treats should be stored in a cool, dry place under 80 degrees F.

Follow these simple guidelines to prevent getting a Salmonella infection from your pet:

• After contact with animals, their food, or their environments, wash your hands well with soap and running water.
• Clean up after your pet. If you have a cat, scoop the litter box daily and dispose of the stool in a tightly sealed plastic bag. If you have a dog, clean up the stool while on walks or from the yard daily and dispose of the stool in a tightly sealed plastic bag.
• Children younger than 5 years of age should not be allowed to touch or eat pet food, treats, or supplements and should be kept away from pet feeding areas. Young children are especially at risk for illness because their immune systems are still developing and because they are more likely than others to put their fingers or other items into their mouths.