The FDA is warning consumers to not feed some lots of Darwin's Natural Pet Food to their pets because of possible Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The FDA issued a similar warning about Darwin's Naturals for possible Salmonella contamination last August, and in October 2023, August 2022, and March 2019. This food is raw pet food. FDA samples of five Darwin's Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food made by Arrow Reliance tested positive for Salmonella contamination. And a sixth FDA sample tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. This food is sold online through a subscription service. These products are sold in frozen 2 pound packages. They are lots of Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats and … [Read more...]
Blue Ridge Beef Raw Kitten and Puppy Food Recalled For Listeria
Blue Ridge Beef Raw Kitten and Puppy Food is being recalled because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella bacteria. No illnesses, either human or animal, have been reported to the company to date in connection with this issue. The recalling firm is Blue Ridge Beef of Statesville, North Carolina. These raw pet foods were sold between November 11, 2023 through December 20, 2023 at the retail level in these states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Pets can be sickened with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes infections. The pets may be lethargic, with bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some animals will only have decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. And others may not have any … [Read more...]
Raw Pet Food Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Sickens 40
A raw pet food Salmonella outbreak in Canada has sickened at least 40 people. Public Health Canada describes the pathogen as "extensively drug-resistant," which means it is much more difficult to treat illnesses caused by this bacteria. The outbreak is also linked to contact with cattle. Cattle and other ruminant animals can harbor pathogens in their guts. The bacteria is excreted in their feces, and can contaminate their coats and anything in their environment. When theses animals are slaughtered, the bacteria contaminates the meat. And when the meat is ground, the bacteria are mixed through it. Many of the patients are children five years old or younger. Younger children are at risk for more serious complications from any food poisoning infection. Some of the patients … [Read more...]
Raw Feeding in Dogs Associated With Cattle-like E. Coli in Feces
Raw feeding in dogs is associated with excretion of "cattle-like" antibiotic resistant E. coli in their feces, which poses a "significant zoonotic threat," according to a study conducted at the University of Bristol and published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. The study, which was conducted on six hundred dogs in England, found that carriage of these pathogens in rural dogs was phylogenetically associated with interaction with local cattle and epidemiologically associated with feeding raw meat. A zoonotic disease is one that can make the leap from animals to humans. People are more likely to be colonized by antibacterial resistant E. coli if they interact with certain animals, including domestic pet dogs. Third generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (3GR-E. coli) … [Read more...]
Raw Pet Food Is a Public Health Issue Because of E. coli Contamination
A study published in Microorganisms has found that feeding pets raw pet food comes with a risk of pathogenic bacteria, including Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can cause serious illness in humans and is a public health issue. The study evaluated commercially available raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) in Switzerland. These foods are made of uncooked raw muscle meats, organ meats, and the meaty bones of livestock or wild animals. They are mostly from the by-products of animals that are slaughtered for human consumption. The study looked at the occurrence of STEC isolated from commercially available raw pet food in Switzerland. In a recent study in the U.S., Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria were identified in 4% of commercially available RMBDs. Studies demonstrating … [Read more...]
Ground Beef and Performance Dog Raw Pet Food Recalled For Pathogens
Bravo Packing of Carneys Point, New Jersey is recalling all Ground Beef and Performance Dog, which is a frozen raw pet food, because it may be contaminated with the pathogens Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Both pathogens can cause serious illness in animals eating the products and in humans who handle contaminated pet products. No human or animal illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with this issue. Samples of Performance Dog and a sample of Ground Beef pet food were collected during an FDA inspection and tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Performance Dog usually works with a distributor who is located in Brooklyn, New York, that fills orders to brick-and-mortar retail stores or to consumers directly nationwide. … [Read more...]
Carnivora Fresh Frozen Patties Recalled For E. coli O157 in Canada
Carnivora fresh frozen patties recalled for E. coli contamination in Canada. There is an outbreak linked to some of these recalled pet food products that has sickened four people as of June 12, 2020. There is a risk that pets fed this food could get sick or become healthy carriers and could pass the illness on to humans. There is also a risk of cross-contamination between the food and objects in the home. About 1,803 units of the affected product were sold in Canada from January 13, 2020 to June, 2020. The recalled products are all Carnivora brand. They include Whole Animal Chicken Dinner with Vegetables 'n' Fruit, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats, sold in 4 pound (1820 gram) bags. The UPC number on the product is 689076622271, and the date codes are 13 01 … [Read more...]
E. coli O157 Outbreak Linked to Carnivora Raw Pet Food in Canada
An E. coli O157 outbreak linked to Carnivora raw pet food in Canada has sickened four people in three provinces as of June 12, 2020. The outbreak is ongoing, as more illnesses continue to be reported to Public Health Agency of Canada. This is not the first time human illnesses have been linked to raw frozen pet food. Exposure to Carnivora brand frozen raw pet food has been identified as the likely source of the outbreak. All of the ill persons said they were exposed to Carnivora brand frozen raw pet food or to dogs who have been fed this product, before they got sick. The patient case count by province is: British Columbia (1), Alberta (2), and Manitoba (1). Illness onset dates range from early March and mid-May 2020. Two of the patients have been hospitalized. And the patient … [Read more...]
Raw Dog Food Can Be Risky For Humans and Pets
According to a new study published in Veterinary Record, raw meat based diets for dogs pose a threat to humans and the dogs because they can be contaminated with pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium, and Enterobacteriaceae. The study showed that some of these raw products have high levels of pathogens. Many recalls of frozen raw pet foods have been issued in the United States over the past few years. Those products have also been linked to human illnesses. In 2018, one person was sickened with a Salmonella infection after feeding a family pet Darwin's Natural raw ground chicken pet food. That product tested positive for E. coli O128, Salmonella, and/or Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. And in January 2019, a Salmonella patient in Minnesota prompted a recall … [Read more...]
