Dog food recalled for Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes; pet owners also at risk

Darwin’s Natural Pet Products has recalled specific production lots of its Natural Selections brand Meals for Dogs after laboratory testing detected Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in samples of the products.

People who have handled the dog food are at risk of Salmonella infection and are advised to seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms of salmonellosis. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea that is watery or bloody, fever and headache.

Countertops, utensils and pet food and water bowls should be throughly washed to prevent cross-contamination.

A search of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Enforcement Report web page revealed the following products have been recalled by direct email communication with customers:

• Natural Selections Duck Meals for Cats, frozen (2-lb. packages; Lot #38277; Mfg. Date: 06/01/17 ) – contaminated with Salmonella
• Natural Selections Chicken with Organic Vegetables Meals for Dogs (2-lb. packages; Lot #40727; Mfg. Date: 09/26/17) – contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes
• Natural Selections Duck With Organic Vegetables Meals for Dogs (2-lb. packages; Lot #40487; Mfg. Date: 09/29/17) – contaminated with Salmonella
• Natural Selections Turkey With Organic Vegetables Meals for Dogs (2-lb. packages; Lot #39937 & #40507; Mfg. Dates 08/24/17 & 09/20/17) – contaminated with Salmonella.

Darwin sells and ships its products directly to customers. Its trademark is held by a Tukwila, WA, company, Arrow Reliance Inc. Darwin’s brand products are not available in stores, nor sold to distributors, according to the company. The recalled products were shipped to customers in September and early October.

Customers who were supplied with the affected products were notified of the recalls by email, with telephone follow-up where necessary, according to the company. No public recall notice was issued, although some information regarding the recall has been posted on Darwin’s Facebook page.

According to information posted on Darwin’s Facebook page, the company does not test “each and every batch of product” at present, but is re-evaluating its current processes in light of the current situation.

The Food and Drug Administration is aware of the recall, according to an agency spokesperson.

Between October 2010 and July 2012, FDA surveyed more than 1,000 samples of pet foods and pet treats for the presence of food-borne disease bacteria, including Salmonella. Of the 196 samples of raw pet food tested during the study, 15 were positive for Salmonella.

On July 16, 2013, FDA issued a “Compliance Policy Guide for Salmonella in Food for Animals,” affirming a zero-tolerance policy for Salmonella in pet food due to the risk to human health.

This report first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with updates with permission.