FSA warns of Salmonella outbreak in frozen mice

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) are advising animal keepers not to feed their pets specific batches of frozen mice following the reported outbreak of Salmonella.

This outbreak of Salmonella has been linked to specific frozen mice products such as Monkfield Nutrition and as a result, a product recall information notice detailing affected products has been issued by the FSA.

The FSA is instructing reptile owners and others who have a supply of the affected frozen mice to return them to the place of purchase so they can be carefully disposed of.

However, the FSA and partners are also warning people to be “extra careful” when handling any frozen rodents including mice product and packaging, not just the batches identified, due to the risk of salmonella from other batches linked to this recall.

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.”