Avoid all pig ear pet treats, FDA warns after salmonella outbreak
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After 127 cases of people developing salmonella poisoning linked to pig ear pet treats, the FDA and CDC are warning consumers not to buy them, and retailers not to sell them.
Illnesses have been reported in 33 states since 2015, with 26 people ending up hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Lennox Intl., Inc., a company that distributes pig ear pet treats, issued a recall on July 26 for some of the treats involved in this outbreak, as has a company called Pet Supplies Plus.
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The FDA says they have traced some of the pig ear pet treats associated with the illness to sources in Argentina and Brazil. They are working to identify where else the pig ears have been sold and take them out of distribution.
The two agencies released the following guidelines for handling the outbreak:
- The FDA and CDC recommend that people avoid purchasing or feeding any pig ear pet treats at this time. This recommendation may change as more information becomes available.
- If you have pig ear treats, throw them away in a secure container where animals, including wildlife, cannot access it. Wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect any surfaces that have come into contact with potentially contaminated products.
- In general, if you choose to feed treats like pig ears, practice good hygiene by: monitoring your pet while they have the treat, picking up the treat when they are done with it, keeping treats away from small children, cleaning the areas the treat contacted, washing hands, and not allowing your pet to lick you, your family members, or surfaces in your home.
- Salmonella can affect both human and animal health. People with symptoms of Salmonella infection should consult their healthcare providers. Consult a veterinarian if your pet has symptoms of Salmonella infection.
The affected states so far have been AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, WA, and WI.
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