In recent years thousands of pounds of pet foods have been recalled as it was feared that it was contaminated with salmonella.

A recent study states that pet foods not only infects pets but can harm humans too.

From January 2006 to November 2008 about 79 people have fallen ill due to pet foods and 50 per cent of them were kids who were two years old and younger.

Reports also state that there might have been more cases that went unreported.

Study author Casey Barton Behravesh, a veterinarian at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Children, stated that for becoming ill, it was not necessary that ids had to put food into their mouths.

People were exposed to salmonella as they were feeding their pets in the kitchen. People who failed to wash hands after feeding their pets may have spread the bacteria around the kitchen.

Since 2006 there have been a dozen recalls announced by the Food and Drug Administration because of salmonella contamination.

Every year, salmonella affects an estimated 1.4 million Americans and 400 deaths occur every year.