“Groundhog Day” for Darwin’s Natural Pet Food

FDA issues new safety advisory after two cats fall sick

October 26, 2026

The FDA is cautioning cat owners not to feed their pets two lots of Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats after both lots tested positive for Salmonella.

The affected lots are identified as Lot 12731, MFG Date: Jul 08, 2026 and Lot 12493, MFG Date: Apr 02, 2026, and are sold frozen in 2-pound white and clear plastic packages with green and black labeling.

The FDA tested samples from these two lots after receiving a consumer complaint about two cats that developed symptoms of gastroenteritis after having consumed the product. One of the cats was hospitalized.

Both cats recovered after being switched to a different food.

The FDA recommended that Arrow Reliance, Inc., the manufacturer of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, initiate a recall. As of today, the company has not complied.

Déjà vu…again

In the movie Groundhog Day, the main character relives the same 24-hour period over and over again, until he gets it right.

What better metaphor than that for the years-long dispute between the FDA and Arrow Reliance?

The company and the FDA have been at loggerheads for close to a decade over repeated instances of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and shiga toxin-producing E. coli in Darwin’s dog and cat foods. Multiple inspections of the company’s production facility in Tukwila, Washington, have documented environmental contamination and sanitation deficiencies.

On August 11, 2026, the US Department of Justice, acting on behalf of the FDA, filed a complaint in federal court asking for a permanent injunction to prevent Arrow Reliance and its owner from “…manufacturing and selling adulterated pet food.”

The DoJ’s complaint specified five counts:

Adulteration due to containing a poisonous or deleterious substance
Adulteration due to production under insanitary conditions
Failure to follow preventive controls regulation
Failure to register as a food facility
Introduction of unapproved new animal drug into interstate commerce.

In response, the company filed a motion requesting that the court dismiss the third and fourth counts. Arrow Reliance claims that it is a “retail food establishment” because it sells directly to consumers through its website, and therefore, is not required to register as a food facility. The company further claims that as a “retail food establishment,” it is not required to follow the federal preventive controls regulation.

The case is still pending.

What FDA wants consumers to know

If you have any of the lots of Darwin’s Natural Selections cat food products listed above, stop feeding the product to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it. Do not donate the food.

The product lot codes are printed on the front of the lower left unit of the package of food. If you no longer have the part of the package with the lot code or can’t read the lot code, throw the food away.

Consumers who have had the products listed above in their homes should clean and disinfect all pet supplies, including all storage containers, bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with, including your refrigerator or freezer. Clean up the pet’s feces in yards, parks, or other places where people or other animals may become exposed. Consumers should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the product or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces.

Pets do not always display symptoms when infected with Salmonella, but signs can include vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite and/or decreased activity level. If your pet has these symptoms, consult a veterinarian promptly.

Pets do not need to display symptoms of illness to pass bacteria on to their human companions. Infected pets can shed these bacteria in their feces and saliva, further contaminating the household environment, other animals, and sometimes, people. To help prevent the spread of bacteria from infected pets to other animals or people, it is important to clean up feces immediately, to wash hands after touching the pet or its environment and avoid contact with the saliva of pets.

How to report a pet illness

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

The FDA encourages consumers and veterinarians to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal.

“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.

“An invaluable resource for busy pet owners” – Food Safety News

Order TOXIC now from your preferred on-line retailer

Guest Contributor Doralice Goes: On botulism

October 25, 2026

Doralice Goes is an inspirational and tireless advocate working to raise awareness about foodborne botulism. Her personal experience with the disease, including the challenges of obtaining a diagnosis and the lack of preparedness for such a situation, motivated her to investigate the study of this condition and to track recent cases worldwide. She gives presentations within the food industry, sharing not only her story of survival but also critical information regarding the symptoms of botulism and the vital importance of food safety. With sensitivity and impact, she addresses how minor lapses in food handling can lead to serious health consequences, offering a unique opportunity to promote a sense of responsibility in both food production and consumption. She also speaks at universities and hospitals, demystifying the disease and highlighting the importance of early diagnosis.

eFoodAlert is pleased to share with our readers this contribution from Doralice Goes, in her own words.

Botulism is a serious, non-contagious, potentially fatal neuroparalytic disease caused by neurotoxins produced by strains of Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium baratii, and Clostridium butyricum. While commonly found in the soil, the bacteria only multiply and produce their toxin under favorable conditions.

Five forms of botulism have been recognized: infant botulism, foodborne botulism, wound botulism, iatrogenic botulism (as a result of injections with Botox), and adult intestinal toxemia. Although rare, the disease has been observed in all five contemporary forms across six continents, necessitating efficient monitoring by health authorities.

Among the five known types, foodborne botulism caused by Clostridium botulinum is the most prevalent, affecting homemade, artisanal, and industrial products alike. This spore-forming bacterium is found in soil and is far more heat resistant than more common foodborne disease organisms. It is able to multiply in food when favorable growth conditions are present: an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment, the presence of moisture and sugar, a water activity level between 0.93 and 0.97, and a pH greater than 4.6.

An analysis of cases recorded over the last three years across six continents points to various sources. In 2023, these included canned sardines served at a restaurant, sun-dried tomatoes, and chicken pot pies. In 2024, cases were linked to artisanal pesto sauce sold at a street market, artichoke soup, homemade cactus-based products, industrially canned mackerel, canned beans, chicken mortadella, pickled eggs, almond milk, and mayonnaise. In 2025, instances involved carrot cake, garlic confit, Neapolitan-style broccoli in sandwiches, chicken pie from a bakery, and avocado pulp.

These occurrences emphasize the need to broaden our understanding of the foods associated with this disease, which extend well beyond the common perception of canned goods, cured meats, preserves, and hearts of palm. Such awareness is essential for preventing further contamination, minimizing associated risks, and executing product recalls, all of which are vital to upholding the fundamental right to healthy and safe food.

Most importantly, the disease can be prevented by adopting food safety practices, such as heating canned or preserved foods to at least 80°C for 10 minutes before consumption , as well as by paying proper attention to expiration dates and ensuring proper storage, especially in tropical countries where temperatures can easily reach 30°C or 40°C.

Botulinum toxin causes paralysis of organs and muscles and typically requires a long hospital stay, including support for breathing, urinating, and eating. Following hospital discharge, the patient must remain off work to focus on motor rehabilitation. There is only one antidote—botulinum antitoxin—which is stored in strategic locations and distributed on request by health authorities.The antitoxin is not kept on-site at individual hospitals and must be administered within seven days of the onset of intoxication. Currently, the case fatality rate is approximately 5% to 10%.

I experienced this lack of preparedness firsthand during a year spent in the ICU after contracting foodborne botulism here in Brazil. It was then that I decided to study this disease in depth, raise awareness, become a reference on the subject, and offer support to people around the world going through the same thing.

As soon as I left the hospital, I began researching botulism. It has been nearly four years of study. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree, with plans to continue into a PhD and postdoctoral research. I want to advance botulism diagnosis and treatment globally. Above all, I want to prevent this terrible disease that shatters lives.

Every week, I receive inquiries from all over the world. From people who have used Botox and are still experiencing symptoms of botulism but have not received timely diagnosis or treatment. From people who contracted foodborne botulism and endured the unimaginable with receiving any proper care—both during the acute phase and in the subsequent, long-term stages. Recently, for example, I heard from a person in Crimea.

I don’t speak English, though I am currently learning the language. Thanks to Google Translate, I can communicate with anyone, in any language. Since contracting botulism, I sometimes struggle with typing, and because the keys on my phone are so close together, I often hit the wrong one. As a result, my texts sometimes contain errors. But none of that matters when you can simply be human and help others. I truly believe I have made a difference regarding botulism.

People who had never heard of it are now paying attention. Doctors who previously failed to diagnose it now consider it when treating patients in the ICU. Academics are delving deeper into the scientific literature. And those living with the disease anywhere in the world now have someone they can turn to. I feel useful! This goes far beyond just “work.” It is my life’s purpose. Even on a Sunday, I am here, fully committed to this cause.

Doralice Goes is a Brazilian master’s student in health sciences and is dedicated to researching botulism. She is also a survivor of the disease. In 2022, she spent 314 days hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU), completely quadraplegic and dependent on a ventilator. Her book, BOTULISMO. Um risco invisível à vida, was published in 2024. It is now out of print.

You can connect with Doralice on Instagram at @doralice.goes and on LinkedIn at Doralicegoes.

California peaches suspected in 2025 Listeria outbreak

An outbreak in 2025 of eight Listeria monocytogenes illnesses in an unspecified number of states is suspected to be due to contaminated peaches, according to information obtained by eFoodAlert in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Although the two cases for which traceback was possible both led to the same distributor and packer, the FDA was not confident enough in the size of the traceback study to implicate a specific firm, variety, or growing field as the source of the contaminated produce.

The FDA conducted a Produce Safety Rule inspection and sampling at the packer identified in the traceback study. The inspection resulted in the issuance on October 9, 2025, of FDA Form 4056 (Produce Farm Inspection Observations), citing concerns related to equipment and tools, as well as inaccurate sanitation recordkeeping, according to the investigation report.

Three of the samples collected during the inspection were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. These included one water sample, one environmental swab sample, and one sample of produce.

None of the Listeria monocytogenes isolates was a genetic match to the outbreak strain or to any other isolates in the national database.

The FDA shared the results of the sample analysis with company management, who initiated an internal root cause analysis and found presumptive positive Listeria results on a set of brushes.

On October 29, 2025, Moonlight Packing Corporation voluntarily recalled California-grown conventional yellow and white peaches that had been processed on or after September 14, 2025, the date the contaminated brush set had been placed into service. The recalled peaches were distributed in more than 30 states and also exported to Canada and Mexico.

The Moonlight recall triggered further recalls by other companies who had purchased and distributed the peaches. On October 30th, Supreme Produce announced a recall of peach salsa that contained peaches supplied to it by Moonlight. That recall was followed on November 3rd by annoucement from JFE Franchising, Inc. that it, too, was recalling multiple batch codes of peach salsa.

While the Moonlight Packing recall did not specify the extent of retail distribution, the peach salsa recalled by both Supreme Produce and JFE Franchising was sold through stores belonging to the Kroger chain.

None of the recalled products were available to consumers at the time of the outbreak, which had ended in late August, 2025. The October recall by Moonlight Packing may have averted a new outbreak, but there was still no conclusive evidence that the company’s previous shipment(s) of peaches were the cause of the eight outbreak cases.

The simplest hypothesis is that an earlier set of brushes (the set that was replaced on September 14th) might have harbored the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak strain.

But, we’ll never know.

This investigation illustrates the difficulties in attributing a small outbreak to a specific (and highly perishable) product. Epidemiological evidence was suggestive, but not conclusive. Only two of the victims were able to supply sufficient data to allow for traceback. Both tracebacks led ultimately to the same distributor and packer. But the outbreak strain—the “smoking gun”—was not found in any of the samples collected during the FDA’s investigation. The finding of other strains of Listeria monocytogenes was suggestive, but not determinative.

It has happened before

This was not the first outbreak to be associated with consumption of contaminated peaches and other stone fruits.

In 2023, the CDC reported on an outbreak of 11 cases of Listeria monocytogenes in 7 states. That outbreak sent ten people to hospital and was associated with one death.

The outbreak strain was recovered from a sample of HMC Farms peaches and from two environmental samples collected during an FDA inspection of the company’s packing plant. In its recall notice, the company acknowledged the link between its produce and the outbreak and provided real transparency—a 109-page list providing the name and address of every retail store to which it believed the recalled produce had been supplied.

A note about transparency

The current administration has put on a big show of “transparency” in its dealings with the media and the public. Nevertheless, the FDA chose to redact significant information from the CORE investigation report before releasing it under the Freedom of Information act.

The suspect food was redacted
The identity and number of the states reporting outbreak illness was redacted
The name of the packer was redacted
The retail chain where outbreak victims had purchased the suspect food was redacted

This is a sample page from the investigation report released to eFoodAlert.

Much of the redacted information was already part of the public record. It was only necessary to know where to look.

In order to identify the food and company suspected of being behind this outbreak, we were able to follow the cookie crumbs of unredacted information. The October 29, 2025, recall mentioned in the report led us to the Moonlight Packing peaches recall—the only relevant recall listed on the FDA website for that date.

The rest of the information fit, too. The investigation report mentions that the most recent previous inspection of the company took place in 2016. Moonlight Packing was inspected in 2016, with no violations noted. It was not inspected again until the FDA’s October 2025 inspection.

Excessive and random redactions are time-wasting, frustrating, and serve no useful purpose. It is time for the FDA to review its redaction criteria and release all information that does not contravene the relevant privacy and “proprietary commerical information” rules.