Dog Goods USA LLC recalled Chef Toby Pig Ears Treats because of possible salmonella contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. No illnesses have been linked to these pig ear dog chews to date.
In July, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended that people neither buy nor use all pig ear pet treats in the United States.
Dog Goods, a pet product distributor in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, has been contacted by the FDA and, based on the best information currently available, will be conducting a voluntary recall of the following products: non-irradiated bulk and packaged pig ears branded Chef Toby Pig Ears, due to potential Salmonella contamination. The product lot codes are:
428590, 278989, 087148, 224208, 1168723, 428590, 222999,
074599, 1124053, 226884, 578867, 224897, 1234750, 444525,
1106709, 215812, 230273, 224970, 585246, 327901, 052248,
210393, 217664, 331199, 225399, 867680, 050273, 881224,
424223, 225979, 431724, 226340, 880207, 334498
Dog Goods bought the products from a single supplier in Brazil from September 2018 through August 2019 and distributed nationwide in retail stores. The FDA sampled pig ears manufactured by our supplier in Brazil and one sample tested positive for Salmonella.
Dog Goods has also launched an internal investigation to determine if, when and where the Products may have been contaminated. To date, this internal investigation has not indicated any vulnerability in the company's practices, including but not limited to the inspection, handling and storage of the Products. Nonetheless, Dog Goods will continue to investigate the matter, collaborate fully with the FDA and the CDC, and provide further information to its customers and the public as appropriate.
FDA, CDC recommend no pig ear dog chew use in US
Numerous cases of Salmonella infection in humans have followed exposure to recalled pig ear dog chews imported from Brazil and Argentina by Lennox Intl Inc.
As of July 31, people in 33 states have reported 127 cases of Salmonella infections, which federal and state officials connected to Salmonella-contaminated pig ear dog treats sold by Lennox Intl Inc. Twenty-six humans have been hospitalized.
Several varieties of Salmonella, including serotypes Infantis, London, and Newport, caused the infections.
“Multiple products have tested positive for numerous types of Salmonella resulting in two company recalls to date,” said Steven M. Solomon, DVM, MPH, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. “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."
Map of reported Salmonella cases
The agencies advised dog and other pet owners to not buy the pet snacks, throw away remaining pig ear chews and ensure that wild animals can’t scavenge the discarded products.
