These dog treats could make pets — and owners — sick. NC company issues recall
Batches of dog treats shipped across the United States could be contaminated with salmonella, prompting a North Carolina company to issue a recall.
Stormberg Foods LLC is recalling several products that officials said have the potential to make pets and their owners sick. The recall comes after salmonella was detected at a facility for the company, which has a presence in Goldsboro, roughly 55 miles southeast of Raleigh.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said the affected treats have expiration dates between June 6 and June 23, 2023. The products under the voluntary recall include:
Beg & Barker Chicken Breast Strips (4 and 10-ounce packages)
Green Coast Pets Chicken Crisps (4 and 8-ounce packages)
State officials said anyone who has treats that are under the recall or who has a sick pet should reach out to stormbergship@gmail.com as soon as possible. Customers reaching out to that email address are encouraged to share details about the products they bought “for return or proper disposal information.”
As of July 15, the company in a news release had amended the recall, no longer listing Beg & Barker 1-ounce packages and Billo’s Best Friend as among the impacted treats.
The company discovered on July 6 that a sample collected at a production site had tested positive for a salmonella species, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That sparked concern that the dog treats — which were shipped across the country in June and July — could be contaminated.
The case was under investigation, and as of July 15 the company said no one had reported themselves or their pets becoming sick.
“While these are pet treats, if contaminated, they can also make pet owners sick if they touch the treats and have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with them or any surfaces exposed to them,” Steve Troxler, state agriculture commissioner, said July 14 in a news release.
Salmonella are bacteria that most often make people sick through food. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are more than 1 million salmonella infections each year, leading to 420 deaths.
In people, symptoms usually appear within six days of an infection and include vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea.
“Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms,” the FDA said on its website. “Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with these products should contact their healthcare providers.”
In pets, some signs of a salmonella infection include loss of appetite, sluggishness, abdominal pain, “diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting,” the FDA said. Pet owners whose dogs show symptoms after eating the recalled foods are urged to call a veterinarian.
This story was originally published July 15, 2022 at 2:16 PM with the headline "These dog treats could make pets — and owners — sick. NC company issues recall."
