Brands included in the recall include:
- Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
- Country Value
- Diamond
- Diamond Naturals
- Premium Edge
- Professional
- 4Health
- Taste of the Wild
As reported by the American Animal Hospital Association news service.
A Diamond Pet Foods manufacturing facility in South Carolina never took reasonable precautions to ensure that production procedures did not result in contamination, an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration revealed.
The inspection, which took place between April 13, 2012 and April 20, 2012, made four observations of unsanitary practices at the plant.
Contamination was the key issue FDA inspectors addressed in their report.
"Specifically, no microbiological analysis is conducted or there is no assurance that incoming animal fat will not introduce pathogens into their production and cause contamination of finished product," FDA inspectors wrote, noting that an employee was observed touching an in-line fat filter and oil with their bare hands. "Also, the firm's current sampling procedure for animal digest does preclude potential for adulteration after sampling and during storage in warehouse."
The FDA also honed in on the equipment used to process the food, writing that the equipment was not maintained adequately enough to prevent possible contamination.
Damage to paddles in conveyers makes the equipment difficult to sanitize, leading to the potential growth of microorganisms, the FDA revealed upon inspection.
Diamond also failed to properly maintain its equipment, using items such as cardboard, duct tape, and other non-cleanable surfaces on equipment surfaces, allowing residues to accumulate.
The FDA also observed a lack of hand washing facilities in the production areas where workers have direct contact with finished food.
The FDA's inspection report comes after a widespread recall of dry dog food by Diamond Pet Foods. So far, the recall has been associated with 16 human illnesses of salmonella contamination; at least five of those cases have resulted in hospitalization.
On May 18, 2012, Diamond announced it was instituting yet another recall, this time affecting samples, 6-pound bags and 18-pound bags of Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula dry dog food manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011.
For recall product code information, please visit diamondpetrecall.com.
