In one of the more unusual stories concerning food-borne illness, the New York Times this week highlighted a new recall of frozen mice—that’s right, mice—that have sickened approximately four hundred people.  The company, Mice Direct, sells frozen mice to owners of pets that eat small rodents (snakes, for instance.)

According to the article, the contaminated mice can carry salmonella, which can then be passed on to reptilian pets.  The snakes, lizards and turtles can then pass the bacteria on to their owners.

Alternatively, the article suggests that handling the frozen reptile feed can also give pet owners salmonella poisoning.  One scenario that the article highlights is contamination of home microwaves used to thaw the mice.  Salmonella then spreads to other microwaved foods.

While this story is unusual to say the least, it highlights the importance of proper sanitary procedures when handling raw meat (even rodent meat!)  The CDC recommends keeping raw meats separate from other foods, along with thorough cleaning of hands, utensils, counter tops, and cutting boards to ensure that any salmonella bacteria is killed before it has a chance to infect humans.