The title from Food Safety News‘ latest report says it all: "After eight expansions, how big is the Diamond Pet Foods Recall?" It’s disturbing that we can’t answer that question, considering the contamination stretches back to 2011 and now it’s apparent that there are problems with another one of their plants.

Accordingly to Food Safety News, the FDA has indicated Salmonella contamination has been found in Diamond’s Meta, Missouri plant, in addition to the South Carolina plant that’s been at the heart of the recall. However, the Missouri Salmonella contamination is from Salmonella Liverpool, a different strain from the South Carolina plant where Salmonella Infantis has been involved. So, there’s no evidence that the two recalls are linked, although you have to wonder whether deficiencies that were found by the FDA at the South Carolina plant might also be present at other plants, thus creating an increased risk of Salmonella contamination.

Anecdotal information about sick animals and people associated with this recall abounds, in stark contrast to information from Diamond Pet Foods. It would be nice to have some clear communication from the company about this outbreak, and some information about what they are doing to control it and prevent it from happening again. The continued expansion of the recall and contamination is concerning, and in the absence of clear communication from the company it’s hard to have confidence in the safety of any more of their products.