Diamond Pet Foods Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

For Update (http://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2012/05/updates-on-salmonella-linked-to-tempeh.html)

CDC reports that there are 14 cases of Salmonella linked to dry dog food produced by Diamond Pet Foods. People become ill from handling the pet food itself and from interaction with the pet who ate the food (yes, and there are probably a few people who may take a little bite themselves).

From the CDC information, it appears that cases could have been seen as early as late 2011, but cases have been coming in sporadically over a 5 or 6 month period. FDA released the first recall notice by Diamond on April 6, (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm299606.htm) but indicated no illnesses were reported. Diamond expanded the recall again on April 26th (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm302137.htm) and again on April 30th (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm302514.htm) to include puppy formula, but in both recall notices did not indicate whether people were affected. Much of this delay is probably related to the low level of cases that occurred over the last 5 months in that connecting illnesses to a product becomes difficult. Couple that with the slow movement of pet food from manufacture to store shelf to purchase to use and to illness. The company started the recall when they got test results back from Michigan Department of Ag , but that expanded the recall as Ohio Dept of Health found Salmonella in product during an illness investigation.  It appears then that CDC had sufficient information to link illnesses with product.

From past incidents with Salmonella in dry dog food such as the Mars Pet Foods in 2008, Salmonella can establish itself in pet food plants and be very difficult to eliminate. This Mars facility that was linked to the Salmonella outbreak was eventually shuttered. If one had to determine how this occurs, Salmonella comes in on the raw materials, and ross contaminates (through air movement via dust particles, personnel movement, etc) the post process side or finished product side of the operation (after the heating step known as extrusion). Once there, Salmonella can make its way into the nooks and crannies and slowly be released into the final product. This can be seen in the Diamond Pet Foods case because there is not just one product implicated, but rather a number of products.

If consumers have Diamond Pet Foods, they should cease use and return to store or dispose.  

Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infantis Infections Linked to Dry Dog Food
CDC News Release Posted May 3, 2012 5:15 PM ET
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/dog-food-05-12/index.html

· A total of 14 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis have been reported from 9 states.

· The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Connecticut (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (3), North Carolina (3), New Jersey (1), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1).
· Among the 9 patients with available information, 5 (56%) were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
· Multiple brands of dry pet food produced by Diamond Pet Foods at a single manufacturing facility in South Carolina have been linked to some of the human Salmonella infections.
· Consumers should check their homes for recalled dog food products and discard them promptly. People who think they might have become ill after contact with dry pet food or with an animal that has eaten dry pet food should consult their health care providers.


Initial Announcement
May 3, 2012

CDC is collaborating with public health and agriculture officials in multiple states and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an ongoing multistate outbreak of human Salmonella Infantis infections. Public health investigators used DNA "fingerprints" of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE, to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak. They used data from PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections. The outbreak strain is rare and typically 0-3 isolates are reported per month.

Multiple brands of dry pet food produced by Diamond Pet Foods at a single manufacturing facility in South Carolina have been linked to some of the human Salmonella infections. People who think they might have become ill after contact with dry pet food or with an animal that has eaten dry pet food should consult their health care providers. 

A total of 14 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis have been reported from 9 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Connecticut (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (3), North Carolina (3), New Jersey (1), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1). 

Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began between October 8, 2011 and April 22, 2012. Ill persons range in age from less than one year old to 82 years old and the median age is 48 years. Seventy-seven percent of patients are female. Among the 9 patients with available information, 5 (56%) were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The outbreak can be visually described with a chart showing the number of persons who became ill each day. This chart is called an epidemic curve or epi curve. Illnesses that occurred after April 1, 2012 might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks. Please see the Salmonella Outbreak Investigations: Timeline for Reporting Cases for more details. 

Investigation of the Outbreak

On April 2, 2012, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development detected Salmonella in an unopened bag of Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dry dog food, which had been collected March 14, 2012, during routine retail testing of dry pet food. Public health investigators used PulseNet to identify recent cases of human illness with a PFGE pattern indistinguishable from Salmonella Infantis which was isolated from the unopened bag of dry dog food produced by Diamond Pet Foods. In interviews, ill persons answered questions about contact with animals and foods consumed during the week before becoming ill. Seven of 10 (70%) ill persons interviewed reported contact with a dog in the week before becoming ill. Of 5 ill persons who could recall the type of dog food with which they had contact, 4 (80%) identified dry dog food produced by Diamond Pet Foods that may have been produced at a single facility in South Carolina. 

As part of this outbreak investigation, Ohio public health and agriculture officials collected and tested dry dog food produced by Diamond Pet Foods. The outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis was isolated from an opened bag of Diamond Brand Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food collected from the home of an ill person, and an unopened bag of the product collected from a retail store. A sample of Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food collected by FDA during an inspection at the South Carolina production facility has also yielded Salmonella.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and regulatory investigations are ongoing to identify if other brands of dry dog food produced at this facility may be linked to human illnesses. Diamond Pet Foods is cooperating with public health and agricultural investigators in this ongoing investigation.


Recall -- Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall to Include Diamond Puppy Formula
due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Contact:
Media
Diamond Pet Foods
816-255-1974

Consumer
Diamond Pet Foods
800-442-0402

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 30, 2012 - Diamond Pet Foods is expanding a voluntary recall to include Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food. The company took this precautionary measure because sampling revealed Salmonella in the product. No dog illnesses have been reported.

 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.

People infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Only the Diamond Puppy Formula products meeting the following descriptions are recalled:

Description Size Production Code Best By Date
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 40 lb. DPP0401B22XJW 6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 40 lb. DPP0401A21XAW 6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 40 lb. DPP0101C31XME 11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 40 lb. DPP0401B21XDJ 7-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 20 lb. DPP0401B22XJW 6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 20 lb. DPP0101C31XME 11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 20 lb. DPP0101C31XRB 11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 8 lb. DPP0401B2XALW 7-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 6 oz. samples DPP0401

The recalled Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food was manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods in Gaston, S.C., and distributed in the following 12 states:

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia 

The product may have been further distributed to additional states through pet food channels. The company is working directly with distributors and retailers that carry these products to remove them as quickly as possible from the supply chain. Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may cause pet owners and their dogs. 

Pet owners, who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods at 800-442-0402, 8 am – 6 pm EST, Monday through Friday, or visit www.diamondpetrecall.com1 2.