Babies and Pet Food?

The magazine Pet Age had an article recently, Salmonella Cases Rise.  It stated that there have been 22 cases of salmonella cases linked to pet food produced by a Diamond Pet Food plant in Gaston, SC.   The odd thing about this news?  The salmonella cases were in humans!  Seriously? Why hasn't anyone asked the question, "Why are these people eating pet food?"

Yeah, I understand.  There are many ways to contract salmonella without actually ingesting it.  I just thought the article sounded funny.

That is, until I read a little further in the article and found this: 

"A New Jersey man filed a lawsuit in his home state alleging that his infant was sickened by salmonella-contaminated dog food, according to published reports."

I dug a little deeper and found more detail at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  The report quotes the lawyer as saying "the route of transmission to the child is uncertain but that it might have happened through the parents' hands".  It went on to point out, quite well, that "people can become infected with salmonella by handling contaminated food ... especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.

Yes, the dog food should not have salmonella.
Yes, the manufacturer should be held responsible for the food.  
But, why, again, is nobody asking ... "Where is the parental responsibility for this?!"  If you handle dogs, dog food ... ANY animal ... wash your hands before handling your baby!

This struck a cord, especially after the recent and ongoing attempt by the CSCP to ban the sale of Bucky Balls.  Nobody in the media is stating the obvious ... parents need to step up and take a little responsibility when it comes to child rearing.  If you can't handle it, then don't hold society responsible for your ineptitude.