With all the Salmonella related pet food recalls of late, Dr. Ron DeHaven, Chief Executive Office at the American Veterinary Medical Association provides pet owners with some advice to help prevent Salmonella contamination associated with pet foods. Although I’m sure the AVMA had good intentions, I doubt many pet owners will follow their advice.
There is something bizzare about being advised to wash my hands after handling my pet’s food or treats. Raw meat, ok, I’m accustomed to that now; but not kibble or a dog biscuit. This hand washing procedure is exactly what the AVMA is recommending to pet owners (and then some) in order to prevent your human family from becoming infected with Salmonella.
Just to recap, the following was the advice offered by the AVMA to prevent Salmonella contamination from pet food/treats…
“Washing your hands after handling pet food and pet treats.”
“Don’t allow immune compromised young or old to handle pet food or treats.”
“Keep your pets food and treats in a separate area from your food.”
“Don’t prepare your pets food in the same area and certainly not with the same utensils.”
“Keep pets off countertops where your food is prepared.”
“Feed your pet as far away from the human food preparation area as you can.”
I have to ask…are you going to feed your pet ‘in a separate area’ or use ‘different utensils’?
I’m not. This is absurd. Why isn’t the AVMA actively working with pet food/treat manufacturers preventing Salmonella contamination in the first place? Why should our pet foods (and human foods) continue to be at risk for Salmonella (and other bacteria) contamination? Seems to me the recommended ‘preventative measures’ should begin long before the food gets to my kitchen (and yes, my pets eat in the same area I do).
And…”Keep pets off countertops where your food is prepared”…are they kidding? Do they (AVMA) have a cat?
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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