Batches of frozen mice used to feed snakes and other animals have been recalled due to ongoing concerns over Salmonella infections.
The Food Standards Agency has issued a warning to reptile owners, urging them not to feed their pets specific batches of frozen mice from Monkfield Nutrition.
Since an outbreak of human salmonellosis linked to frozen mice was first reported in 2015, there have been almost 900 cases of illness, according to the FSA.
A government spokesperson said: “In September this year, the FSA introduced new requirements for shops to provide a leaflet warning about the risks of Salmonella and how to keep customers safe when buying and feeding frozen mice to their reptiles.
“However, the outbreak continues and a full withdrawal and recall of the specific batches of frozen mice is necessary. The withdrawal and recall does not affect rats from the same supplier, however investigations are continuing, should concerns about the safety of rats be identified, advice will be updated.
“Therefore, if you have the affected feeder mice product in your freezer, please return it to where you purchased it from so it can be disposed of carefully and thoroughly clean and disinfect any surfaces it has been in contact with, including your hands.
“We are also asking people to be extra vigilant with all frozen rodent product, however, do check the specific information about which batches are involved as retailers will not be accepting other material.”
The latest product recall from Monkfield Nutrition covers the following products:
> Mouse Pinkies Small, 25 pack (1g per mouse)
> Mouse Pinkies Large, 25 pack (2-3g per mouse)
> Mouse Fluff, 25 pack (4-6g per mouse)
> Mouse Crawlers Small 25 pack (7-9g per mouse)
> Small Mice 10 pack (10-15g per mouse)
> Medium Mice, 10 pack (16-20g per mouse)
> Large Mice, 10 pack (21-30g per mouse)
> Jumbo Mice, 10 pack (> 31g per mouse)
> Pets at Home Mouse Pinkies Small, Individual, 20 pack and 100 pack (1g per mouse)
> Pets at Home Mouse Pinkies Large, Individual, 20 pack and 100 pack (2-3g per mouse)
> Pets at Home Mouse Fluff, Individual and 20 pack (3-5g per mouse)
> Pets at Home Small Mice, Individual and 20 pack (10-15g per mouse
> Pets at Home Medium Mice, Individual and 20 pack (16-20g per mouse)
> Pets at Home Large Mice, Individual and 20 pack (21-30g per mouse)
> Pets at Home X Large Mice, Individual and 15 pack (> 31g per mouse)
Point of sale notices have been displayed in all retail stores selling these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products.
For more details of the product recall visit https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-55-2021-update-1
