Salmonella Lawsuit Filed After Baby Exposed to Recalled Dog Food

Costco and Diamond Pet Food Processors face a salmonella poisoning lawsuit from the father of an infant who was hospitalized after being exposed to contaminated dog food that was recalled due to contamination. 

The complaint was filed this week in the U.S, District Court for the District of New Jersey by Nevin Eisenberg, on behalf of his eight-week-old son. The lawsuit names Diamond Pet Food Processors and Costco Wholesale Corp. as defendants.

Eisenberg indicates that he purchased Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Food from Costco, which was recalled last month after it was linked to a salmonella food poisoning outbreak that sickened at least 15 people in nine states.

On April 11, his son fell ill, with severe diarrhea, fever and loss of appetite. As a result of the illness, he was hospitalized for three days and diagnosed with salmonellosis, brought about by the same strain detected in recalled dog food bags sold by Diamond Pet Food.

FDA inspectors have cited Diamond’s manufacturing plant in Gaston, South Carolina, for numerous violations, including having equipment that was poorly maintained, difficult or impossible to clean properly.

Salmonella infection causes a type of food poisoning known as Salmonellosis, which can produce symptoms within 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria in food.  Symptoms could include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting or fever.

While most healthy individuals do not require treatment and the illness typically resolves in 4 to 7 days, young children, elderly individuals and those with weak immune systems are more susceptible to a severe form of the food poisoning, which could require hospitalization and be potentially life-threatening.