Due to possible salmonella contamination, Steve's Real Food issued a recall on March 7, 2013, of 5-pound bags of its Turducken Canine Diet (8-ounce patties) distributed from Oct. 2012 to Jan. 2013. The issue came to light when Minnesota Department of Agriculture personnel, after a routine sampling, determined one 5-pound bag had the “potential for contamination.” Gary Bursell, CEO of the Murray, Utah-based pet food manufacturer, said he thinks that the alert might have stemmed from finding an open bag. “We use a biodegradable film on the bags, and we've had problems sealing the patty bags, not the nuggets,” Bursell said. Consequently, Steve's Real Food made the decision to recall the July 27, 2012, production run of 5-pound bags of Turducken Canine Diet Patties, which the suspect bag was part of, and preempt any action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bursell explained. The entire amount of product recalled is 40 cases, consisting of 240 bags or 1,200 pounds of patties. Bags of the recalled product have lot number B-209-10-27-13 and a best-before date of Oct. 27, 2013. The product was distributed by Holistic Pet Source in Nashville, Tenn.; PFX Pet Supply in Cumberland, R.I.; Newco in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and Solid Gold Northland in Minneapolis to retailers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, California, Minnesota and Tennessee. There have been no human or animal illnesses linked to the recalled product to date, according to the FDA. Anyone who has purchased a 5-pound bag of Turducken Patties are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Customers with concerns should contact Steve's Real Food at 801-540-8481 or email at gary@stevesrealfood.com Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST. “We sanitize our production facility between every product run,” Bursell said. “Our plant operates just the same as any human food facility,” he added, “and everything we've got out there is clean stuff.” Click here to read all recall news. <HOME>
