Adapted from a press release:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to pet owners regarding certain lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat food that tested positive for Salmonella. Three kittens in one household became ill due to these cat foods.
Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain Free Chicken Recipe for Cats (Lot 9116) was manufactured on May 2, 2022 and Lot 9121 on May 4, 2022.
Arrow Reliance Inc, trading under Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, manufactures these products which are sold direct to consumers online.
After receiving reports that three kittens in one household had consumed food from these two lots and experienced diarrheal symptoms as a result, stool samples from one kitten tested positive for Salmonella contamination. A fourth kitten did not consume the food and did not become sick from consuming any.
Whole genome sequencing revealed that both products contained Salmonella. The turkey product contained Salmonella Typhimurium while the chicken product contained both species, making for a mixed infection scenario.
Products are packaged in white and clear plastic packages with blue and green labeling, each pack weighing two pounds and consisting of four individual units; lot codes can be found on the front lower left unit of each package.
Salmonella infections can affect both human and animal health. Anyone displaying symptoms of Salmonella infection should consult a healthcare provider, while veterinarians can be called in if you believe your pet has symptoms of infection.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can lead to illness and even death in both humans and animals, particularly those who are particularly young, old, or have compromised immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those infected by Salmonella typically exhibit diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps; in some instances they require hospitalization – as their condition becomes severe without immediate antibiotic treatment – spreading from their intestines into their blood stream and possibly other parts of their bodies unless prompt action is taken by healthcare providers. For further advice regarding symptoms associated with Salmonella infections please contact your healthcare provider immediately for advice – in case this applies to you!
Salmonella infection in pets does not always present with symptoms; however, warning signs include vomiting, bloody diarrhea (which may require hospitalization), fever, loss of appetite and decreased activity level. If these signs arise in your pet it should be addressed immediately by seeking veterinary assistance and consulting with them directly; infected pets can even shed the bacteria via their stool without showing symptoms themselves.
Risks Presented by Salmonella-Tainted Pet Food
Food contaminated with Salmonella poses significant public health threats that impact both human and animal wellbeing. Pets may become sick with Salmonella infections while also acting as carriers for it, passing it along to humans without seeming sick themselves. According to FDA data, both humans and/or animals have fallen ill after exposure to pet foods contaminated with this pathogen.
As soon as Salmonella becomes established in an animal’s digestive system, they can shed it with every bowel movement, spreading contamination further. As Salmonella-contaminated feces can spread easily throughout yards or parks where people or other animals might come into contact with it; furthermore it should also be cleaned off items in your home as soon as possible.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act mandates that all animal foods produced for consumption by humans be produced under sanitary conditions with no harmful substances present, labeled correctly and contain truthful label information. Refrigeration or freezing alone cannot eradicate Salmonella contamination.