FDA Refrains From Notifying the Public about a Salmonella Treat Recall for Two Weeks

Dated two weeks ago (9/27/23), five FDA Enforcement Reports state treats produced by Carolina Prime Pet and sold by Hollywood Feed pet stores were recalled on 9/27/23…

BUT, the FDA has not issued a public notice alerting pet owners to the recall.

The FDA gives a public appearance the agency is very concerned with Salmonella in pet products. The agency has a zero tolerance policy (not law, a policy) – meaning the FDA considers any pet food or treat that contains any level of Salmonella to be adulterated.

The FDA Salmonella pet food policy gives explanation of why FDA is so concerned with this pathogen…

“FDA believes regulatory action is warranted in cases involving pet foods contaminated with any Salmonella serotype, due to the heightened human health risk given the high likelihood of direct human contact with such food.”

So…if a pet treat is contaminated with Salmonella (as evidenced by the Enforcement Report) – and since the agency believes there is a “heightened human health risk given the high likelihood of direct human contact” with the pet treat…why has FDA waited two weeks to notify the public?

Every day that goes by without a public notice is another day that pet owners could be having direct contact with the Salmonella contaminated treat. Unlike with a pet food, a treat is not delivered to the pet via a bowl (scooped or spooned into the bowl). Treats are given to the pet by the hand (‘direct human contact’). How many children have handled these treats in the last two weeks? How many immune compromised adults?

We sent questions to FDA yesterday (the Press division) asking why the agency has not notified the public regarding this Salmonella treat recall. The agency has not responded.

This is reckless behavior of the agency.

It has to be noted that the FDA takes a very different action plan about raw pet food and Salmonella. The agency has a year’s long history of bias against raw pet food, from issuing public warnings against all raw pet foods such as “Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets can be Dangerous to You and Your Pet” to multiple warnings against specific raw pet food brands over the years.

But the very same agency that is so concerned about Salmonella in raw…sits on five Salmonella treat recalls without warning the public.

Something is very wrong.

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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