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Source: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaDryPetFood/?s_cid=fb985
CDC:Salmonella from Dry Pet Food and Treats
Dry pet food and treats often contain germs, such as Salmonella. It is important to know how to properly handle, store, and behave when handling dry pet foods and treats to minimize the risk of becoming ill.
Follow these tips to help prevent an infection with Salmonella from handling dry pet food and treats:
Purchase Tip
Purchase products (canned or bagged) with no visible signs of damage to the packaging, such as dents, tears, or discolorations.
Preparation Tips
Washing hands is the most important step to prevent illness. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with water and soap right after handling pet food and treats, and especially before preparing, serving or eating food, drinks or preparing baby bottles
Preferably, people should feed their pet in areas other than the kitchen.
Wash pet food bowls, dishes and scooping utensils with soap and hot water regularly. Avoid washing these items in the kitchen sink or bathtubs to prevent cross-contamination. In households where there is no alternative, the sink area should be adequately sanitized after these items have been cleaned and removed.
Infants should not be bathed in kitchen sinks because of the risk of cross-contamination.
Do not use the pet?s feeding bowl as a scooping utensil ? use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon, or cup.
Storage Tips
Pet food should not be handled or stored in areas where food for humans is prepared.
If possible, store dry pet food in its original bag inside a clean, dedicated plastic container with a lid, keeping the top of the bag folded or closed.
Promptly refrigerate or discard unused, leftover wet pet food and containers (e.g., cans, pouches). Refrigerating foods quickly prevents the growth of most harmful bacteria. Refrigerators should be set at 40 degrees F. The accuracy of the setting should be checked occasionally with a refrigerator thermometer.
Dry pet food and pet treats should be stored in a cool, dry place under 80 degrees F.
Follow these simple guidelines to prevent getting a Salmonella infection from your pet:
After contact with animals, their food, or their environments, wash your hands well with soap and running water.
Clean up after your pet. If you have a cat, scoop the litter box daily and dispose of the stool in a tightly sealed plastic bag. If you have a dog, clean up the stool while on walks or from the yard daily and dispose of the stool in a tightly sealed plastic bag.
Children younger than 5 years of age should not be allowed to touch or eat pet food, treats, or supplements and should be kept away from pet feeding areas. Young children are especially at risk for illness because their immune systems are still developing and because they are more likely than others to put their fingers or other items into their mouths.
CDC works 24/7 saving lives, protecting people from health threats, and saving money to have a more secure nation. A US federal agency, CDC helps make the healthy choice the easy choice by putting science and prevention into action. CDC works to help people live longer, healthier and more productive lives.
CDC:Salmonella from Dry Pet Food and Treats
Dry pet food and treats often contain germs, such as Salmonella. It is important to know how to properly handle, store, and behave when handling dry pet foods and treats to minimize the risk of becoming ill.
Follow these tips to help prevent an infection with Salmonella from handling dry pet food and treats:
Purchase Tip
Purchase products (canned or bagged) with no visible signs of damage to the packaging, such as dents, tears, or discolorations.
Preparation Tips
Washing hands is the most important step to prevent illness. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with water and soap right after handling pet food and treats, and especially before preparing, serving or eating food, drinks or preparing baby bottles
Preferably, people should feed their pet in areas other than the kitchen.
Wash pet food bowls, dishes and scooping utensils with soap and hot water regularly. Avoid washing these items in the kitchen sink or bathtubs to prevent cross-contamination. In households where there is no alternative, the sink area should be adequately sanitized after these items have been cleaned and removed.
Infants should not be bathed in kitchen sinks because of the risk of cross-contamination.
Do not use the pet?s feeding bowl as a scooping utensil ? use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon, or cup.
Storage Tips
Pet food should not be handled or stored in areas where food for humans is prepared.
If possible, store dry pet food in its original bag inside a clean, dedicated plastic container with a lid, keeping the top of the bag folded or closed.
Promptly refrigerate or discard unused, leftover wet pet food and containers (e.g., cans, pouches). Refrigerating foods quickly prevents the growth of most harmful bacteria. Refrigerators should be set at 40 degrees F. The accuracy of the setting should be checked occasionally with a refrigerator thermometer.
Dry pet food and pet treats should be stored in a cool, dry place under 80 degrees F.
Follow these simple guidelines to prevent getting a Salmonella infection from your pet:
After contact with animals, their food, or their environments, wash your hands well with soap and running water.
Clean up after your pet. If you have a cat, scoop the litter box daily and dispose of the stool in a tightly sealed plastic bag. If you have a dog, clean up the stool while on walks or from the yard daily and dispose of the stool in a tightly sealed plastic bag.
Children younger than 5 years of age should not be allowed to touch or eat pet food, treats, or supplements and should be kept away from pet feeding areas. Young children are especially at risk for illness because their immune systems are still developing and because they are more likely than others to put their fingers or other items into their mouths.
CDC works 24/7 saving lives, protecting people from health threats, and saving money to have a more secure nation. A US federal agency, CDC helps make the healthy choice the easy choice by putting science and prevention into action. CDC works to help people live longer, healthier and more productive lives.