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In yet another tainted pet food product incident, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a health alert for Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats due to possible contamination with Salmonella. Pet treats and other pet food products that are contaminated with Salmonella pose a risk to both pets and humans. No illnesses have been reported, but Salmonella was positively detected in Merrick Beef Filet Squares. Identifying the Affected Dog Treats
The affected treats were packaged in red, green, and tan 10 ounce, re-sealable, plastic bags. They are marked with “9323 best by 111911” but this is printed on the part of the bag that is torn off when the bag is opened. If you have an already opened bag of the treats, and followed the directions when opening it, you will probably not be able to find the identifying date. Merrick voluntarily withdrew the potentially defective dog treats on January 11, 2010. As of January 15, 2010, 20 cases remained unaccounted for and may be in people’s homes or already consumed. The Problem with the Affected Dog Treats
The FDA detected Salmonella in Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats in December, 2009, during routine testing. The FDA conducted a follow-up inspection on December 28, 2010 and found deficiencies in the manufacturing and packaging processes. The health alert was not issued until January 14, 2010. Salmonella in Pet Products Poses Multiple Risks
Raw food diets for pets have become popular, and often include raw chicken. It is very rare for healthy dogs to become infected with Salmonella from eating raw chicken. However, Salmonella contaminated pet food and treats can make your dog ill, and can even be fatal, especially for dogs with compromised immune systems. Salmonella infection is contagious. It is spread through feces. Dogs who are able to resist infection themselves can still pass Salmonella in their stool if they ingest the bacteria. Other pets and people who come into contact with the feces can then become infected. Of course, Salmonella can be spread through human feces as well. Humans who handle products that are contaminated with Salmonella can also become infected. In recent years, large outbreaks of Salmonella infection in humans have been closely associated with contaminated pet food recalls. What to Do If You Have the Affected Treats
If you have Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats that are affected by the health alert, or may be affected by it, you should dispose of them in a sealed container. If possible, do not handle the treats when disposing of them. After disposing of the treats wash your hands thoroughly, and clean any containers, food dishes, and surfaces that may have come into contact with the treats. If you believe that your dog has become ill from eating recalled dog treats or if you or a family member has become ill from contact with defective pet food products or any other product that was discovered to be defective or dangerous in any way, please visit the website of Schlichter, Bogard & Denton, experienced defective products attorneys serving clients nationwide.
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