Salmonella found in Diamond Pet Foods

At least fourteen people in nine states have been sick with salmonella after handling contaminated dog food from a South Carolina plant, which produced toxic food that killed dozens of dogs.

Five people were hospitalized due to the dog food, made by Diamond Pet Foods. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention three people each were infected in Missouri and North Carolina; two people in Ohio; and one person each in Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

"People who became ill, the thing that was common among them was that they had fed their pets Diamond Pet Foods," said CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell.

Salmonella can spread by handling the infected dog food, then not washing their hands before eating or touching their own food. Back in 2005, a poisonous mold called aflatoxin ended up in food made at Diamond Pet Foods in South Carolina. The company offered a $3.1 million settlement. The deadly bacteria probably got into the plant when it failed to test 12 shipments of corn, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The plant located in South Carolina was temporarily shut down on April 8. Four rounds of recalls for food made at the plant has been issued to Diamond Pet Foods between December 9 and April 7. Officials in Michigan found the strain of salmonella during routine testing of dog food on April 2, while health investigators made the connection between the mold and the food made by Diamond Pet Foods.

"We took corrective actions at the plant, and today the plant is up and running. Our mission is to produce safe pet foods for our customers and their pets in all Diamond facilities," the company said in a written statement Friday.

Canidae, Natural Balance, Apex, Kirkland, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, Country Value, Diamond, Diamond Naturals, Premium Edge, Professional, 4Health, and Taste of the Wild pet food brands all have been recalled.

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