Bravo Packing has been ordered by the courts to stop distributing pet food adulterated with Salmonella bacteria. This order was on behalf of the FDA. The complaint was filed on March 15, 2022 and alleges that Bravo Packing violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by distributing animal food that was contaminated with pathogens, and by causing animal food to become adulterated while it was held for sale. Samples that were collected by the FDA during inspections of the Bravo Packing facility in July 2019 and April 2021 allegedly contained Salmonella, a pathogen that can cause serious illness in both pets and humans. Salmonella can be transferred to people from animal food through handling of the food or through direct contact with infected animals. Principal … [Read more...]
FDA Investigates Salmonella Pig Ear Dog Treats Outbreak
The FDA is investigating the Salmonella pig ear dog treat outbreak that has sickened at least 45 people in 13 states. The pathogen is Salmonella enterica serotype I 4,[5],12:i:-. Twelve people have been hospitalized. Some bulk pig ears have been recalled, but no illnesses have been directly linked to those particular dog treats. Pig ear treat samples collected from bulk bins in retail locations by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development tested positive for several strains of Salmonella bacteria, but not the specific strain connected to this outbreak. They found Salmonella London, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Infantis on the pig ears. The FDA and CDC are trying to discover if any cases of human illnesses are linked to the Salmonella … [Read more...]
FDA Warning Letter: JBS Souderton Tallow Contained Pentobarbital
An FDA warning letter dated April 23, 2019, states that the manufacturer JBS Souderton's products from its rendering plant contain pentobarbital, which is a drug used to euthanize dogs and cats in the United States. The pentobarbital was found in the pure tallow the company produces that was used to make pet food. JBS Souderton does business as MOPAC and supplies beef tallow to several animal food manufacturers. This letter is significant because pentobarbital was found in some brands of dog food last year, including canned Smucker dog food such as Gravy Train, Kibbles 'n Bits, and Skippy products. It is illegal for pet food to contain pentobarbital, because the food then contains an unsafe new animal drug. And no food can be sold in this country that is adulterated or … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Consumers Against Darwin’s Natural Pet Raw Dog Food For Salmonella
The FDA has posted a warning for consumers to avoid feeding their pets some lots of Darwin's Natural Pet Products raw dog food because samples have tested positive for Salmonella bacteria. These three lots "represent a serious threat to human and animal health and are adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they contain Salmonella," according to the notice. The raw dog food in question is: Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs: 5309(11)181019, manufactured on October 19, 2018 Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs: 5375(11)181106, manufactured on November 11, 2018 Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Turkey Recipe with … [Read more...]
One Salmonella Case Associated with Darwin’s Raw Chicken Pet Food
The FDA has quietly released information about the multidrug-resistant, multistate Salmonella outbreak that is linked to raw chicken products. One person has reported becoming sick after pets in their home ate raw ground chicken pet food manufactured by Darwin’s Natural, according to a statement placed in the FDA's announcement of an investigation into contamination in raw pet foods. There is no more information about that person, how he or she got sick, if pets in the home were sickened, or if the patient was hospitalized or if they have recovered. There is a history of recalls and "multiple complaints" associated with Darwin's Natural Selections and Darwin's ZooLogics pet foods, which are manufactured by Arrow Reliance. The foods in question were manufactured from October 17, … [Read more...]
Should You Feed Raw Pet Food? Consumer Reports Weighs In
A Salmonella outbreak in Minnesota that is linked to recalled raw pet food is highlighting a question that pet owners face. Should you feed your pet raw food? Consumer Reports weighs in. In that outbreak, two children were sickened after pets in their home were fed Raws for Paws ground turkey pet food. One of the children was hospitalized with osteomyelitis, a serious and painful bone infection that can cause fractures later in life. Sales of raw frozen and refrigerated pet foods has grown by 263% from 2011 to 2017, but those diets are controversial. Some vets say that those products are not nutritionally balanced. The products can contain raw organ meats, whole or crushed animal or fish bones, unpasteurized milk, uncooked eggs, and raw produce. Any raw meat can be contaminated … [Read more...]
New Study Finds E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella in Raw Pet Foods
Raw pet foods can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as E. coil O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes, according to a new study published in the journal Veterinary Record. These findings show that raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) "may post a risk to both animal and human health," according to the study. The study was conducted at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Raw pet foods have risen in popularity in the past few years. Humans are at risk for possible illness by handling the food, and by touching or petting animals fed this food. Pathogens can also be passed from pet fed raw diets to human by the dog or cat licking people. The researchers analyzed 35 commercial products from eight different brands. They found E. coli O157:H7 in 23% of the samples, … [Read more...]
Blue Buffalo Recalls Dog Food for Elevated Hormones
Blue Buffalo Company is recalling one lot of Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain RecipeTM Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs, since it may contain elevated levels of naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormones. Dogs ingesting too many of these compounds could exhibit symptoms such as increased thirst and urination, weight loss, increased heart rate, and restlessness. With prolonged consumption, symptoms may become more severe and may include vomiting, diarrhea, and rapid or difficulty breathing. If these symptoms occur, contact your veterinarian immediately. No reports of sick dogs have been reported to the company, but the FDA told Blue Buffalo about one customer who exhibited those symptoms in one dog, who has fully recovered. The recalled product is Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain … [Read more...]
Study on Prevalence of Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli in Pet Food
The Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), with the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) and its Microbiology Cooperative Agreement Program (MCAP) labs have conducted a study to look at the prevalence of selected bacteria in pet foods. The goal was to help the Center for Veterinary Medicine prioritize future testing, and increased FERN screening for foodborne pathogens in pet food that may be a significant health risk to consumers.Six FDA FERN MCAP labs analyzed more than 1,000 samples over 2 years. The labs tested for Salmonella, Listeria species, E. coli O157:H7, and Shiga toxin-producing strains of E. coli (STEC). Dry and semi moist dog and cat foods were purchased from local stores in Phase 1. Raw dog and cat foods, exotic animal feed, and jerky … [Read more...]
FDA: Know the Risks of Raw Food Pet Diets
The FDA has released advice for consumers about the risks of feeding raw diets to their pets. Not only can your pets become ill, but you can too, either through contact with contaminated food or if your pet sheds pathogenic bacteria. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes are two bacteria found in raw diets that are especially dangerous to pets and humans. Raw pet food is meat, bones, and organs that have not been cooked. FDA does not believe feeding raw pet foods to animals is "consistent with the goal of protecting the public from significant health risks." The agency recommends cooking raw meat and poultry to kill pathogenic bacteria before you give the food to your pets. One of the problems with a raw food diet is that people think it's natural for animals to eat raw meat. Feral … [Read more...]
