Human Salmonellosis outbreaks in 2008 have been potentially traced to dry petfood, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in the journal of Pediatrics.
The Salmonellosis outbreak took place between 2006 and 2008, involving 79 cases across 21 states, most among young children. The outbreak was blamed on Salmonella bacteria found in several brands of dry dog and cat food produced at a Mars Petcare US plant in Everson, Pennsylvania USA. The human cases of Salmonellosis were the result of cross-contamination from feeding pets the dry petfood in the kitchen, according to the report's lead author, Casey Barton Behravesh, DVM, DrPH of CDC.
The discovery of the petfood link to human Salmonellosis led to recalls of several brands of petfood, as well as the closing of the Mars Petcare plant.
