Merrick Pet Treats Recall 2011

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas has announced a voluntary recall of their Junior Texas Taffy pet treats due to the possibility of contamination with Salmonella bacteria.

Complete details regarding this recall are available within the actual FDA News Release dated January 28. 2011.

Dog food recalls involving Salmonella contamination are potentially serious matters… for both humans and pets. People who handle dry food can easily become infected with the bacteria.

This is especially true if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats themselves. Or after touching any surfaces exposed to these products.

The FDA goes on to say…

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

So, take precautions… and be sure to tell everyone you know.

You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

To date, no illnesses have been reported.

Although Merrick recommends returning these products to their place of purchase for a refund, The Dog Food Advisor believes following such advice would unnecessarily increase the risk of spreading Salmonella to others.

For this reason, we advise disposing the suspicious product in a covered trash receptacle.

Consumers with questions may contact Merrick at 800-664-7387 (M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm CST).

Visit our Dog Food Recalls summary page for a list of links to all the Advisor’s most recent recall reports.