Pet Supplies Plus on July 3 issued a recall of bulk pig ear products supplied by several vendors to all its locations across the US following the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) investigation into pig ear pet chews for being potentially contaminated with Salmonella.

Pet Supplies Plus has pulled all bulk pig ear products from its shelves and halted shipping the products to its locations in 32 states.

The overarching FDA CDC investigation states: “In the course of the investigation, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) visited retail locations where ill people reported purchasing pig ear treats and collected samples. Testing revealed that the samples were negative for the specific outbreak strain [Salmonella enterica serotype I 4,[5],12:i:-], but the samples tested positive for Salmonella London, Salmonalla Typhimurium, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Infantis… FDA is working with the firm to identify the source of the pig ear treats, how they became contaminated, and where they were distributed.”

Pet Supplies Plus was among the retailers visited by MDARD, where bulk pig ear products tested positive for Salmonella, “but not the specific strain connected to this outbreak,” the FDA stated.

The recall, published by the FDA, stated the 45 individuals across 13 states who have been diagnosed with Salmonella-related illnesses linked to Salmonella enterica serotype I 4,[5],12:i:-, of which 12 people have been hospitalized.

The Pet Supplies Plus recall applies to bulk pig ears stocked in open bins and excludes prepackaged, branded pig ear products, according to the FDA.

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