Bravos Expands Dog Food Recall Due To Salmonella + Listeria; Could Transit To Humans
A manufacturer of dog foods has expanded an earlier recall to now include all of their pet products, following positive tests for salmonella and listeria. Bravo Packaging - which makes raw and frozen dog food and chew bones, has expanded that voluntary recall to their products sold under the Bravos name.
Details released on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website show that test samples of their products came back as testing positive for both salmonella and listeria. One of the main concerns is the potential for cross contamination - between pets and humans:
"Salmonella can cause illness in pets eating the products, as well as people who handle contaminated pet food products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products, infected pets, or any surfaces exposed to these products."
Additionally, humans can come in contact with salmonella and listeria via the waste materials after pet consumption: "Animals can shed salmonella through their feces and saliva, which could spread the infection in the home or to other animals". Due to that fact, pet owners who have Bravos products are additionally cautioned to take care in washing their hands and following proper hygienic procedures.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists symptoms of both salmonella and listeria on their website. Here are some of the signs you should watch for:
- Salmonella (in humans): "[N]ausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis (an infection of the heart muscle), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. People who have these symptoms after having contact with the products identified in this recall or with a pet that has eaten these products should contact their healthcare providers."
- Salmonella (in pets): "A pet with a Salmonella infection may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain."
- Listeria (in humans): "[H]igh fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea." Additionally, the more-serious side-effects "can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a complete list of specific product details on the recalled dog foods. Click here to see it.
Pet owners that have the recalled products in their possession should handle them with caution. Discard them immediately. Questions can be directed at Bravo Packing, Inc. by calling 856-299-1044.