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UPDATE: Pet-food recall expanded
Update 4 p.m. Tuesday : Solid Gold Health Products for Pets issued a voluntary recall Tuesday of one batch of WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food and one batch of Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food , distributed in the United States and Canada between January and May 2012. Read more here.
Earlier: Diamond Pet Foods has expanded its recall of dog food made at its Gaston, S.C., plant to include more brands, including some Kirkland Signature products, Costco's private label, because of Salmonella contamination at the facility.
Kirkland products distributed in Washington were not included in the recall, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (For more information on this recall, go here.)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that several brands of dry dog food made at Diamond's South Carolina facility tested positive for Salmonella Infantis, a rare strain that has infected at least 14 people. The individuals became ill either through handling the tainted kibble or having contact with a dog that had eaten it. The outbreak has now spread across nine states.
Although Diamond has claimed no dog illnesses have been linked to the outbreak, Food Safety News reports the claim may be leaving some pet owners with a false sense of security because state and federal agencies don't track pet illnesses. So although no dog illnesses have been reported, that doesn't mean no dog illnesses have occurred, it says.
The Kirkland Signature products included in the recall are:
-- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
-- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
-- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
-- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
-- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula (Best Before Dec. 9, 2012 through Jan. 31, 2013)
-- Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula (Dec. 9, 2012 through Jan. 31, 2013)
-- Kirkland Signature Nature's Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs (Dec. 9, 2012 through Jan. 31, 2013)
To determine if their pet food is recalled, the FDA recommends consumers check the production codes on the back of bags; they must have both a number "3" in the ninth position AND an "X" in the 11th position. The best-before dates for the recalled brands listed are Dec. 9, 2012 through Jan. 31, 2013.
The recall affects only products distributed Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Other brands included in the recall are:
-- Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
-- Country Value
-- Diamond
-- Diamond Naturals
-- Premium Edge
-- Professional
-- 4Health
-- Taste of the Wild
Natural Balance Pet Foods, Apex Pet Food, Candide Pet Foods and WellPet LLC have also issued voluntary recalls, according to the FDA.
Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain, according to the FDA. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.
Apr 14 - 10:30 AM Get your pet licensed without getting dinged with late fees
Apr 11 - 4:25 PM The cat's meow: Fun events for fans of felines
Apr 3 - 6:00 PM Another salmonella pet-food recall
Mar 31 - 9:25 PM Update: Pet-food recall
Mar 28 - 5:00 PM New study on how diet may impact a dog's sense of smell




