Merrick Pet Care has announced the recall of some of its Jr. Texas Taffy pet treats over a concern that they might be tainted with salmonella.
MERRICK PET CARE RECALLS JR TEXAS TAFFY PET TREAT (ITEM # 27077, ALL LOTS UP TO AND INCLUDING 10364) BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE SALMONELLA HEALTH RISK
01.30.2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 28, 2011 – Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is recalling the Jr. Texas Taffy pet treat (ITEM # 27077, UPC # 02280827077, All Lots up to and including 10364) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Merrick Pet Care has made the decision to recall all Jr. Texas Taffy pet treats in the abundance of caution. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers immediately.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
The Jr. Texas Taffy was shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the US. These individuals have been notified and have activated their recall procedures.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
Consumers who have purchased the Jr. Texas Taffy are urged to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm CST.
This comes only a few months after a similar recall of other dog treats. Merrick started as a beef slaughterhouse but has parlayed that into a large pet food and treat empire.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2010
Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is recalling all lots of its 10 oz “Beef Filet Squares” for dogs and “Texas Hold’ems” pet treats because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle… .
And of course, many dry pet foods have implicated in an ongoing (since 2007) “outbreak” of Salmonella in humans.
Salmonella bacteria are common environmental contaminants, but they are especially rampant in animals from factory farms and feedlots. Careless hygiene in beef slaughterhouses means that infected feces can easily contaminate the carcasses of freshly slaughtered cattle.
It’s long been known that more than 30% of dogs and nearly 20% of cats are Salmonella carriers, and that they occasionally shed the organisms in their feces. The majority of cats and dogs are eating dry pet food. Kibble comes out of the extruder sterile, but is exposed to airborne bacteria during drying. As if that weren’t hazardous enough, the kibbles are then sprayed with a concoction of rendered animal fat and digests to make the pellets palatable. Those mixtures are likely to contain a variety of bacteria, including Salmonella.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends increased hygiene when feeding dry pet food. Here’s a better idea: don’t feed dry pet food!
While Merrick’s canned cat foods are great, I wouldn’t trust anything from them that isn’t cooked!
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