Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Pet Food News

CDC Links Diamond Pet Food to Human Salmonella Outbreak

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports numerous varieties of pet foods manufactured at the Gaston, SC Diamond Pet Food facility have been linked to fourteen human Salmonella infections in nine states. Five people were hospitalized.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports numerous varieties of pet foods manufactured at the Gaston, SC Diamond Pet Food facility have been linked to fourteen human Salmonella infections in nine states.  Five people were hospitalized.

From the CDC website“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.”

“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).”

“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.”

Diamond Pet Food is no longer responding to my questions, they stopped responding when questions were sent to them regarding reports that Diamond was removing product from a distribution center.  All emails and phone calls have gone without response since (and this is after the media rep went on and on about how Diamond wants to build a relationship with TruthaboutPetFood.com).  If Diamond was responding, I would like to ask them about this part of the CDC report…

“Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began between October 8, 2011 and April 22, 2012.”

Human illness, now linked to the Diamond manufactured pet foods began in October, 2011.  Yet the recall – voluntary recall – did not occur until April, 2012; five months later.  Did Diamond receive reports of sick pets with symptoms of salmonella in 2011?

The Diamond Pet Food website states they are committed to 151 checks during the processing of pet foods.  “141 ingredient tests, 10 final product checks, Zero Compromises.”  Was Salmonella testing was part of the 151 checks?  “Diamond is audited regularly by a highly respected independent laboratory for food safety, quality and palatability.”  Did the highly respected independent laboratory that regularly audited Diamond include tests for Salmonella?

From the CDC report, the Michigan Department of Agriculture detected Salmonella in an unopened bag of Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal and Rice dry dog food on April 2, 2012.  We can assume that from the Michigan Dept of Ag testing, Diamond was notified of the positive Salmonella testing the same day – April 2, 2012.

Four days later, April 6, 2012, Diamond announced the first of three recalls; Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal and Rice.  The one food that Michigan tested and found positive for Salmonella.

As part of this outbreak investigation, Ohio public health and agriculture officials collected and tested Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula from a person who became ill.  Ohio found the food tested positive for Salmonella.  The next voluntary recall…Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula.

And it continues… 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.  On April 30, 2012 Diamond voluntarily recalled Diamond Puppy Formula.

Though there is NO confirmation of this, it appears each recall was ‘volunteered’ when regulatory officials provided Diamond with positive Salmonella test results.

If you read closely what is stated on each of the Diamond Recall press releases, you’ll see some clues to what they knew and didn’t fully explain…

April 6th “No illnesses have been reported…”
April 26th “No dog illnesses have been reported.” (This was the food tested taken from the home of a sick pet owner.)
April 30th “No dog illnesses have been reported.”

Fourteen people have become sick, linked to the Diamond manufactured pet food…but no dog illnesses have been reported.  Are we to believe Diamond has not received one complaint from dog owners?

I have emailed and talked with many pet owners who did report sick pets (some died) to Diamond.

I guess it boils down to, some pet food manufacturers have a different understanding of ‘voluntary’ than we do.  We look at a voluntary recall as the pet food manufacturer wanting to save lives when they receive reports from pet owners of sick pets believed to be related to a food.  Some of them look at a voluntary recall as we have no choice, the feds have test results.  (I say ‘some of them’ because I believe there is a huge difference between Big Pet Food and many small manufacturers.)

What a shame.

To read more on the Salmonella illness investigation…
Click Here to read the CDC report
Click Here to read The Food Bug Lady, Phyllis Entis report
Click Here to read the FDA report

 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com

What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients?  Chinese imports?  Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods,  and pet treats.  30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com

 

 

Have you read Buyer Beware?  Click Here

 

 

 

 

Cooking for pets made easy, Dinner PAWsible

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?  Click Here to subscribe

Follow Truth about Pet Food on Twitter

Become a Fan of Truth about Pet Food, Dinner PAWsible, Buyer Beware on Facebook

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn More

Human Grade & Feed Grade
Do you know what the differences are between Feed Grade and Human Grade pet food? Click Here.

 

The Regulations
Pet Food is regulated by federal and state authorities. Unfortunately, authorities ignore many safety laws. Click Here to learn more about the failures of the U.S. pet food regulatory system.

 

The Many Styles of Pet Food
An overview of the categories, styles, legal requirements and recall data of commercial pet food in the U.S. Click Here.

 

The Ingredients
Did you know that all pet food ingredients have a separate definition than the same ingredient in human food? Click Here.

Click Here for definitions of animal protein ingredients.

Click Here to calculate carbohydrate percentage in your pet’s food.

 

Sick Pet Caused by a Pet Food?

If your pet has become sick or has died you believe is linked to a pet food, it is important to report the issue to FDA and your State Department of Agriculture.

Save all pet food – do not return it for a refund.

If your pet required veterinary care, ask your veterinarian to report to FDA.

Click Here for FDA and State contacts.

The List

The Treat List

Special Pages to Visit

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Click Here

Pet Food Recall History (2007 to present)
Click Here

Find Healthy Pet Foods Stores
Click Here

About TruthaboutPetFood.com
Click Here

Friends of TruthaboutPetFood.com
Click Here

You May Also Like

Pet Food News

A comparison of how FDA has handled pet illness and death and human illness linked to kibble pet food and raw pet food.

Pet Food News

You decide - did these two pet food press releases directly lie or are they just misleading consumers?

Pet Food Ingredients

For sales worldwide, who are top money makers in pet food? Hint: the top six world pet food brands are U.S. companies. Are they...

Pet Food Ingredients

Have you ever wanted to look back at a pet foods ingredients years ago? Have you wondered if a Big Business buy out of...