Pet owners warned not to feed animals food brand after positive salmonella tests

18 August 2023 , 20:14

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Pet foods contaminated with Salmonella are of particular public health importance because they can affect both humans and animals (Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)

Pet owners are being warned not to feed their animals with a certain food brand after positive salmonella tests.

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says samples of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food have tested positive for salmonella. Pet owners are being urged to throw the products away in a secure container to avoid other animals and wildlife from accessing the food.

Owners are also being advised to thoroughly clean refrigerators and freezers where any products of concern have been stored and to clean and disinfect pet bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any surface the food may have come into contact with. Consumers should also thoroughly wash their hands after handling the product or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces.

Pet foods contaminated with salmonella are of particular public health importance because they can affect both human and animal health. Pets can get sick from salmonella and may also be carriers of the bacteria and pass it on to their human companions.

Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food have tested positive for Salmonella

The specific products Darwin’s products, made by Arrow Reliance Inc, tested positive for salmonella include:

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• Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs, Lot 9774, manufactured on Jun 13, 2023.
• Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 9795, manufactured on Jun 28, 2023.
• Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 9830, manufactured on Jul 19, 2023.

The products are in white and clear plastic packages. The dog food has blue labels, and the cat food has blue and green labels. Each package weighs two pounds and consists of four separate units. The lot codes are printed on the front of the lower left unit of the package.

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause illness and death in humans and animals, especially those who are very young, very old, or have weak immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people infected can develop diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most people recover without treatment, but in some people, the diarrhoea may be so severe that need hospital treatment.

In these patients, the bacteria infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. Consult your health care provider if you have symptoms of salmonella infection.

Pets do not always display symptoms when infected with salmonella, but signs can include vomiting, diarrhoea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite and/or decreased activity level. If your pet has these symptoms, consult a veterinarian promptly. You should also be aware that infected pets can shed the bacteria in their bowel movements without showing signs of being sick.

People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians.

Abigail O'Leary