Pet Food Recall 2021: This Pet Food May Be Contaminated With Salmonella, Listeria

New Jersey-based Bravo Packing is recalling two pet food products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria.

Specifically, the company is recalling its "Performance Dog" and "Ground Beef" in 2-pound and 5-pound plastic sleeves after samples of the products tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes during an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to the recall notice posted on the FDA website, both the pets that will eat the affected products and the people who will handle them may be at risk of getting sick from either Salmonella or Listeria.

So far, no illnesses related to the recall have been reported, but people who may still have the products in their homes are being advised to throw it away.

The recall notice provides photos of the affected products' packaging. Those with questions about the recall may contact the company at 856-299-1044.

Salmonella In Pets And People

Salmonella can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping in people considered healthy, with most people able to recover without any special treatment. However, some may develop a serious illness that requires hospitalization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

Similarly, pets infected with Salmonella may also experience diarrhea, vomiting and fever. They may also appear lethargic. But as the CDC explained, even healthy-looking pets may be contaminated with Salmonella even if they appear clean and healthy. So even if they don't look ill, they may still shed the bacteria in their stool and possibly contaminate their fur and surroundings.

As such, it's always important for people to wash their hands after coming in contact with their pets or a potentially contaminated surface.

Listeria In Pets And People

As the recall notice explained, people considered healthy may only experience "short-term" Listeria symptoms, such as stiffness, nausea, headache and high fever. But in pregnant people, being infected with L. monocytogenes can cause stillbirths or miscarriages. What's more, a Listeria infection may even be fatal in children and older individuals.

In fact, the FDA noted that pregnant women are 18 times more likely to get listeriosis compared to other healthy adults. It also cited a United Nations/World Health Organization report, which indicates that people over the age of 60 are 2.6 times more likely to get listeriosis compared to the general population considered healthy.

In animals, listeriosis is more common in rodents and rabbits compared to dogs and cats, the FDA said, noting that rabbits and chinchillas are particularly more sensitive to the infection.

In dogs and cats, L. monocytogenes "rarely cause disease," and those who do display symptoms often show mild ones, such as vomiting and diarrhea, the agency said. Still, some can also experience more serious symptoms such as muscle pain, fever and difficulty breathing.

Just like with Salmonella, even if the pets don't exhibit symptoms, they may still be carriers of the bacteria and may inadvertently spread it in the household.

As PetPlace noted, proper hand washing, not feeding pets human food, cleaning food preparation surfaces and thoroughly cooking raw food are just some of the ways people can protect themselves and their pets from Listeria.