FLORIDA, USA — A brand of dog food sold at Publix stores in Florida and Georgia is issuing a voluntary recall due to the possibility of salmonella contamination, according to an alert published by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this week.
Freshpet says a single lot of its Freshpet Select Small Dog Bite Size Beef and Egg Recipe dog food, sold in 1-pound bags, may have been contaminated. The lot was designated to be destroyed, but it was inadvertently shipped to stores in certain markets between June 7 and June 10, the alert says.
The affected bags have a sell-by date of Oct. 30, 2021 and were sold at Publix stores in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, as well as limited Target locations in Arizona and Southern California, according to the recall alert.
Most of the product was intercepted at distribution warehouses and not delivered to stores, Freshpet says, but if pet owners have products matching the description, they should stop feeding it to their dogs and dispose of it immediately.
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Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, as well as humans who handle contaminated products, especially if they do not thoroughly wash their hands after handling the products or surfaces exposed to the products, the alert says.
Symptoms to monitor in humans include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (or bloody diarrhea)
- Abdominal cramping
- Fever
Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms, according to the recall alert. Anyone who experiences these symptoms after handling the dog food should contact their health care provider.
Symptoms to monitor in dogs include:
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea (or bloody diarrhea)
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal pain
Infected dogs can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your dog has eaten the recalled dog food and has symptoms, Freshpet urges you to contact your veterinarian.
Freshpet has not received any reports of illness, injury or adverse reaction. The recall is voluntary and out of caution to keep pet owners and dogs safe, the release says.
For questions or to report adverse reactions, call 1-866-789-3737 Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. You can also visit www.freshpet.com.
To receive a refund for the recalled product, click here.
