Pet Food Recall: Natura Issues Massive Recall Due to Salmonella in Products

Pet food recalls seem to be taking a big hit this spring, with recalls sweeping animal products for cats, dogs and ferrets alike.

And, unfortunately, recent news put a new recall on the list. According to the pet company Natura, they're issuing a massive pet food recall after the FDA allgedly found salmonella in one of their products.

The company notes that as little as a single positive test for the contaminant leads to a limited recall, in which just a few days' worth of pet food products are recovered. However, Natura has chosen to recall everything produced more than a week ago, with the implementation of additional product testing procedures.

"We are taking the additional precautionary measure," the employees announced in a press release, because "our first priority is the well being of the pets we serve."

If you think your pet may be showing symptoms of the potentially deadly health problem, make sure to get medical assistance immediately.

Salmonellosis, also known as Salmonella food poisoning, is caused by the Salmonella bacterium. There are many different kinds of this bacteria, including Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis.

WebMd reports that everyyear, approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States alone. In humans, children and the elderly are particularly prone to infection, as well as those with impaired immune systems. And as for animals, pets can also come down with an infection.

The recall includes all Innova, California Natural, EVO, Healthwise, Mother Nature, and Karma branded dry pet food and biscuit treats with expiration dates prior to June 10, 2014. The expiration date appears in different places on the various products. To find out where to look for your pet food's expiration date, see the illustrated guide on the Natura website.

If you own any of the recalled pet food, dispose of it immediately, but not before you clip key information off the bag. To get a full refund, you need to fill out this form and mail it to Natura with the UPC label, expiration date, and product code cut from the pet food bag.

For further information, you can contact the company online or by calling (800) 224-6123.

Want to know what the symptoms are for Salmonella poisoning in pets? Make sure to check them in this video.