I’ve never been a fan of pig ears as chew treats for dogs, but now it appears that the CDC and FDA are also coming out against the popular dog treat. However, it’s not because of an issue with dogs but rather a serious health threat to their owners.
There have been 127 cases of Salmonella in humans that have a suspected link to pig ear treats. Most of these pig ears seem to have originated from Argentina and Brazil, but the CDC wants you to toss all the pig ears that you may have at home.
They are also telling all retailers that sell pig ears to take them off the shelves until further notice.
“The FDA takes seriously our responsibility to protect both human and animal health,” said Steven M. Solomon, D.V.M., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “Multiple products have tested positive for numerous types of Salmonella resulting in two company recalls to date. Given this and the links to human illness, we believe the most effective way to protect public health at this time is to warn consumers to avoid purchasing or feeding their pets all pig ear treats and for retailers not to sell these products. We also continue to advise those who may have come into contact with potentially contaminated products to practice safe hygiene, including thoroughly washing hands and disinfecting any surfaces that have touched pig ear pet treats. The FDA will provide additional updates as our investigation further progresses.”
This hasn’t been the only situation involving pig ears and salmonella as of late. Pet Supplies Plus initiated a recall of bulk pig ears recently after samples tested positive for Salmonella.
Want a better chew toy idea? Try This WishBone Chew Toy, or this peanut butter-flavored dog chew from Smart Sticks.
For more information regarding this investigation, as well as information about what to do if you suspect that you may have been affected, check out this article: “FDA Investigates Contaminated Pig Ear Pet Treats Connected to Human Salmonella Infections.”
