Risk of Salmonella Contamination from Dog and Cat Food and Treats

Canned and dried dog and cat food can become contaminated either during production or storage. Pig ears and similar treats that involve dried animal parts can cause salmonella infection in people. Salmonella Lurks in Pet Foods Too | NYTimes explains:

Dried pet food typically is heated to high temperatures that kill bacteria before it is shaped into different shapes of kibble. But dry food is not necessarily produced under sterile conditions, and contamination can occur at various stages in the production process, veterinarians say. Canned food, by contrast, is vacuum-sealed and sterilized but can be contaminated after it is opened if improperly stored or handled.

Pig ears, which are frozen, cleaned and flavored but not cooked, may become contaminated from the original animal carcass. One study in Canada found that 51 percent of pig ears purchased at stores contained salmonella; another study also found high rates of contamination, 41 percent, in pig ears sold in the United States.

Moral of the story -- everyone who lives or works with pets should thoroughly wash their hands before and after handling pet food.

Read More in: Dogs | Food, Feeders and Waterers

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