Salmonella Outbreak Leads to Contamination of Pet Food

An outbreak of Salmonella in pet food is being blamed for the death of two cats in Montreal this year. The cats were at an animal shelter when they died unexpectedly. One person also became seriously ill after coming in contact with the contaminated food. The shelter has since pinpointed the source of the outbreak and contacted company officials. Since the cat food poses a threat to humans as well, the Public Health Agency of Canada has started to investigate the outbreak and is speaking with company officials about possible sources. A public notice was issued to recall any remaining cans of the contaminated pet food; at this time, it is uncertain how many animals may have been affected. The contamination was limited to the company's dry food pet products that were distributed both in Canada and the United States.

In conjunction with American authorities, the Public Health Agency has determined that the outbreak originated in a factory in South Carolina. At least 14 people have become sick after handling the food, none of whom have lost their lives. While the company started with a recall of just one type of food, it expanded to include several more pet food styles under its brand to ensure that no more contamination takes place. Now that the food has been recalled, pet owners are having trouble disposing of the food, which could be eaten by wildlife.