Stella & Chewy’s was notified by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that some of their dog food tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company is recalling five products for possible contamination as a precautionary measure. The product that tested positive for the pathogenic bacteria and the first recalled is Frozen Stella’s Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs in 8.5 ounce packages, lot #165-15, UPC number 186011 001554 and Use by date 6/25/2016.
The other four recalled products include Frozen Stella’s Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs in 4 pound packages. It has a UPC number of 186011 001370, lot #165-15, and Use by dates of 6/25/2016 and 6/26/2016. Another recalled product is Frozen Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels for Cats in 1.25 pound packages. The UPC number is 186011 001455, the lot #165-15, and the Use by date is 6/25/2016.
These next two recalled products may have come into contact with the affected lot. They are Frozen Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels for Cats in 1.25 pound packages. The UPC number is 186011 001448, lot #160-15, and use by date is 7/2/2016. Finally, Frozen Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels for cats in 1.25 pound bags with lot #152-15 is recalled, with UPC number 186011 001448 and use by date of 7/2/2016.
Dogs and cats contract listeriosis very rarely and usually do not show signs of the disease. But people can be very susceptible to this bacteria. Pets can spread the bacteria to human beings by shedding it in their feces, although this is rare. The illness can be very serious or fatal in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to listeriosis, since this illness can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. If you have any of these products in your home, be on the lookout for the symptoms of this illness, which can take up to 70 days to appear after infection.
The symptoms include fever, severe headache, nausea, still neck, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Pregnant women may only have a mild illness.
If you purchased any of these products, do not feed them to your pets. Throw them away in a double bagged or sealed container or return to the place of purchase for a refund. Then wash your hands very thoroughly after handing the product. Clean out the freezer or refrigerator, or wherever you stored the product, with a mild bleach solution to kill any remaining bacteria.
