The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) announced on July 30 a voluntarily expansion of its Feline Renal Dry diet cat food recall. Fearing potential salmonella contamination of other foods manufactured in the facility where the Feline Renal Dry diet was produces, P&G has now recalled:

• all Iams Veterinary dry formulas
• all varieties of Eukanuba Naturally Wild
• all varieties of Eukanuba Pure
• Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin. 

The recall expansion includes all dry formulas and varieties of these brands for dogs and cats. Iams Veterinary dry formulas were only sold by veterinary offices. The Eukanuba Naturally Wild, Pure and Custom Care Sensitive Skin forumulas were sold online and in specialty pet retail stores. In Syracuse, the specialty retailer listed on the Iams/Eukanuba website includes central New York area Petco stores. The Petco website now features a notice that these products are no longer available for sale. 

UPDATE - On Monday, August 2, Syracuse Dog Training confirmed that Eukanuba Naturally Wild dry formulas were sold in Pet Supplies "Plus" stores, including the Dewitt location at 3196 Erie Blvd. East. Customers who purchased recalled products at Pet Supplies "Plus" are advised to double-bag the remaining product and return it to the store where it was purchased.

According to the Iams/Eukanuba website, this recall expansion includes all dry sizes and varieties of these formulas, all UPC codes, and all bags stamped with "Best By" dates of 01Jul10 - 01Dec11. No canned food, biscuits, treats or supplements are affected by this announcement. Check the full list of varieties, bag sizes and UPC codes involved - P&G: July recalls involve up to 950,000 bags of Iams veterinary, Eukanuba specialty dry dog and cat foods. Consumers should check any bags of these products purchased since July 1, 2010 (the first "Best By" date.)

According to the P&G news release, all of the newly recalled products were made in one specialized facility. P&G, cooperating with the FDA, determined that some products made at this facility were potentially contaminated with salmonella. P&G initiated the voluntary recall expansion of all products made at the affected facility as a precautionary measure, although currently no salmonella illnesses in either pets or humans have been reported.

P&G is advising consumers who have purchased the specific dry pet foods listed to discard them in protected trash disposal so that they are not handled by people or consumed by pets. For further information or a product refund call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8823, Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm eastern time.

---------------------------------------Salmonella risks and symptoms--------------------------------------------

People handling dry pet food can become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people infected with salmonella should monitor themselves for 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 have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If a pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, P&G advises the consumer to contact the pet's veterinarian.
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