Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Dry Dog Food

One expert thinks contamination of pet food is likely to become more commonplace.

"There have been problems with pet foods before," said Dr. Pascal James Imperato, chairman of the department of preventive medicine and community health at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in New York City.

"If the food had any animal product in it, there could have been contamination, or if it was being processed in a plant where they were also processing animal product, then contamination can easily occur," he said.

Imperato said the way food is produced makes it more likely that contamination will occur.

"There is greater industrialization of the production of food products, both for humans and animals, and these are complex processing systems. Therefore, there is greater opportunity for contamination," Imperato said. "We are likely to see many more of these problems."

More information

For more on salmonella, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCES: Casey Barton Behravesh, D.V.M., Dr.P.H., epidemiologist, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Pascal James Imperato, M.D., chairman, department of preventive medicine and community health, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, New York City; May 16, 2008,Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report