Pet (Fish) Food Recalled After Lab Misreads Salmonella Results

A Wisconsin firm is recalling fish food, Aqueon Betta Food, after Salmonella test results were reversed and called positive.  It appears the firm shipped the product on getting negative Salmonella results and then had to conduct a recall after two negatives were confirmed as positive.  "Central Aquatics has appropriate testing protocols and followed all such internal testing protocols. However, the outside independent laboratory contracted to conduct and read Salmonella testing mistakenly indicated the two lots of the recalled product were negative for Salmonella, when in fact it was found to be positive for Salmonella. Central Aquatics immediately initiated steps to recall the subject product upon notification of the error by the independent laboratory."

As indicated in the report, there is little information on the impact of Salmonella on fish, however, the concern would be that people handling the fish food, often dosed to the fish by pouring some in the fish feeders hand,  could be transmitted to that person or others.

The important point in this is the impact of the laboratory and the results they furnish regarding the product.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/central-aquatics-recalls-aqueon-betta-food-95-oz-jar-because-possible-salmonella-health-risk
Central Aquatics Recalls Aqueon Betta Food (.95 oz Jar) Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: June 26, 2019
FDA Publish Date: June 26, 2019

Lab Error Blamed for 2012 Case of Chocolate Recalled for Salmonella

In 2012, chocolate bars from Belgium were rejected for import into the US after a Belgium laboratory reported the product as Salmonella positive.  The product was destroyed.   After an investigation, the Salmonella strain identified was the same strain found by the laboratory in fish meal.  Cross contamination in the laboratory?  That is what is believed.  Unfortunately, a few years back, there were not the whole genomic sequencing tools readily available as we do today.

This puts a light on laboratories and the impact of poor practices can have on a company's product.  Tight controls need to be in place to prevent cross contamination.  Companies need to question results that seem unlikely.  Today, further investigation can be completed using whole genome sequencing to rule out laboratory error, including excluding the laboratory's positive control sample.

BioMed Centralhttp://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13104-016-1969-7
Case report of Salmonella cross-contamination in a food laboratory