Contamination fears spur recall of pig ear pet treats

May 23, 2000
Web posted at: 6:19 p.m. EDT (2219 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that a manufacturer of a pet food treat is voluntarily recalling its product due to possible salmonella contamination.

Treat Makers, L.L.C. is recalling its Medals brand pig ear treats. Pet owners could become ill if they touch their mouths or food after handling the treats without first washing their hands, according to an FDA news release.

Salmonella is not considered a health risk for dogs or other pets. It can, however, lead to serious infections in small children or the elderly.

Healthy people can develop short-term symptoms from the salmonella organism, such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Long-term complications can include arthritis.

The pet food product was recalled after testing by a distributor of the product found some salmonella-positive samples. Testing by Treat Makers, L.L.C. did not find any salmonella.

The pig ears were distributed through Caustic stores in 11 states: Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Hawaii and Montana. Consumers can return the products for a refund.

The possibly contaminated treats are from lot numbers 07600EXU3 and 08300EXU1. Those numbers can be found on white stickers on the back of the bags.

Consumers with questions can call Treat Makers at 888-250-7369

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