No one likes to be the bearer of bad news, but here I am with some that’s urgent. Nature’s Menu Chicken and Quail dog food has been recalled due to salmonella risk. A sample of a single 3-pound bag tested by the Georgia Department of Agriculture tested positive for Salmonella. Though other samples tested negative, Sunshine Mills Inc. issued a voluntary recall of all of this particular food on August 24, 2020 out of an abundance of caution.
The company’s announcement reads:
“Sunshine Mills, Inc. is issuing a voluntary recall of Nature’s Menu® Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail because of the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.”
Which Products Were Recalled?
The recalled food products were distributed nationally in retail stores, and it’s possible if you shop at a larger retailer you purchased it. The products can be identified with UPC codes UPC 7015514363 and UPC 7015514365. This food comes in a 13.5-pound bag with the following lot codes:
TB1 20/April /2020, TB1 21/April/2020, TB1 22/April/2020, TB2 20/April /2020, TB2 21/April/2020, TB2 22/April/2020, TB3 20/April/2020, TB3 21/April/2020, TB3 22/April/2020.
The packaging looks like this:
What To Do If You Have This Food
DO NOT FEED THIS FOOD TO YOUR DOG. Return it to the place where you purchased it for a full refund. Retailers who sell the products were already advised to throw it out and stop selling it. So far, no related injuries have been reported. You can call Sunshine Mills at 800-705-2111 if you have any questions.
If you choose to throw the bag of food away, secure the trash bag so your naughty pup doesn’t find his or her way into it.
U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area. You can also visit the FDA’s pet food complaint site.
About Salmonella
When it comes to dog food tainted with Salmonella, both dogs and their people who handle it are at risk.
Symptoms of Salmonella in dogs include:
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Decreased Appetite.
Those symptoms will appear similar in infected people too. Salmonella can occasionally result in more serious ailments as well, like muscle pain and arterial infections. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can still be carriers and pass on the infection to other animals or humans.
If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or your dog, contact your respective health care providers immediately. You should also wash your hands with soap and water and do the same for surfaces tainted food may have touched.
H/T: Petful
Featured Image: @mattycoulton/Pixabay