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July 30, 2010

Cleveland company recalls reptile feed

Georgia Agriculture issues stop sale on company’s live rodents

Georgia Department of Agriculture

Biggers & Callaham LLC has recalled frozen reptile feed (mice, rats, chicks), and the Georgia Department of Agriculture has issued a stop sale order on live rodents by the company from its Mice Direct facility in Cleveland because of the potential of Salmonella contamination, according to Commissioner Tommy Irvin.

Human illnesses that may be related to the frozen reptile feed have been reported in 17 states. The recalled product should not be fed to animals, even after heating in a microwave oven, since the heating may not be adequate to kill Salmonella.  The recall is based upon sampling by the Food and Drug Administration of frozen mice.  The company continues its investigation.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture does not regulate raw meat sold for pet food.

Frozen reptile feed was shipped in plastic bags with the following product codes M-SP100, M-P100, M-PF100, M-F100, M-H100, M-W50, M-A50, M-JA25, R-P100, R-F50, R-PUP50, R-W50, R-S50, R-M20, R-L10,R-J5, R-C5, R-M3 followed by E9, F9, G9, H9, I9, J9, K9, L9 or A10, B10, C10, D10, E10, F10, G10 and whole frozen chicks in 25 count bags.

Any frozen feed shipped after July 24, 2010 will be irradiated in a similar manner as raw food for human consumption in order to address the Salmonella issue associated with the products.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture issued the stop sale on live rodents “because our state veterinarian says the live rodents have the same risk for Salmonella contamination as the frozen ones and are carriers of Salmonella, posing the same health risks to humans and pets,” Commissioner Irvin said.

Consumers who purchased reptile feed or live rodents from Mice Direct are urged to contact  *Mice Direct by phone at 888-747-0736 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Monday-Friday or by e-mail at sales@micedirect.com for instructions concerning this recall and for credits towards replacement of unused product.

Healthy people exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.  Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.

Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

The frozen reptile feed was distributed in all states, except Hawaii, through pet stores and by mail order and direct delivery.

 

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