The Public Health Agency of Canada, today, advised people who give their pets natural pet treats and/or raw food made from raw animal materials to wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap after handling these products, as a measure to prevent against salmonella bacteria.

The agency defines natural pet treats as including various dried or smoked products with animal or seafood contents. Animal treats may include ears, hooves and hearts from a number of species.

This warning came after a safety alert issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency last June, regarding specific brands of natural pet foods that might contain salmonella poisoning. Manufacturers of these products issed a recall.

The Public Health Agency went on to say that there have been several cases of illnesses caused by salmonella bacteria in humans, resulting from contact with natural pet foods, over the past six years, including outbreaks in 1999 and 2002.