Consumer complaint leads to Salmonella finding in Darwin’s raw pet food

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating its previously issued advisory concerning Darwin’s Natural Pet Products after finding Salmonella in yet another sample of the company’s raw pet food.

The latest Salmonella finding concerns the following product:

Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 9802, manufactured on Jul 7, 2023.

Previously, the FDA warned consumers about Salmonella contamination in the following products:

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.

As of the updated (October 12, 2023) advisory, the company has declined to recall any of the Salmonella-contaminated products, which were manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc., doing business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, and sold online.

On February 16, 2023, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Gary Tashjian, Owner of Arrow Reliance Inc., citing evidence of Salmonella contamination in the company’s finished products, the use of a non-permitted food additive (peroxyacetic acid) as a pathogen mitigation step, and Tashjian’s refusal to comply with federal requirements that it register with the FDA as a food facility.

What consumers should do

If you have any of the Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections cat or dog foods listed above, stop feeding it to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it.

Consumers who have had this product in their homes should clean refrigerators/freezers where the product was stored and clean and disinfect all bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with. Clean up the pet’s feces in 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.

TOXIC

From Factory To Food Bowl
PET FOOD IS A RISKY BUSINESS

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“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.

Recalls and Alerts: October 7–9, 2023

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

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TOXIC

From Factory To Food Bowl
PET FOOD IS A RISKY BUSINESS

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

Enjoy the slideshow as you listen to a sample of TOXIC, narrated by the author.

United States

Public Health Alert: FSIS issues Public Health Alert for Kirkland Signature Applewood Smoked MASTER CARVE HALF HAM Boneless With Natural Juices (4-lb avg. wt.; Lot 264 – 4; Use by / Freeze by Jan 20 24) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Carolina Prime Pet, Inc. recalls five varieties of Hollywood Feed CAROLINA Made Jerky treats due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Allergy Alert: 2213256 Ontario Ltd. recalls Compliments brand Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (680g; Best before 2024 JA 18; EST 876; UPC 0 55742 56277 4) due to undeclared soy.

Food Safety Recall: Sunrise Poultry Processors Ltd. recalls Sunrise Farms brand Young Turkey with giblets (Variable size; Best before 2023 OC 11) due to possible spoilage. The recalled product was distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Iceland): Max Import ehf. recalls Hell Energy brand Hell Ice Coffee Coconut (Best before 15.12.23) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall (France): LAURY CHALONGES DIS LECLERC POLE SUD BASSE GOULAINE recalls TEAM OUEST brand Tomme d’Espelette brebis fermier poivron piment / Sheep milk farm cheese with chili pepper (Lot BP70323; Best before 27/02/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): ALDI CENTRALE D’ACHAT recalls LE MARSIGNY brand SAUCISSON SEC / Dry sausage (36 slices / 150g; All lots) due to potential breakdown in storage temperature control.

Food Safety Recall (France): PESKEREZH MAISON LUCAS recalls MAISON LUCAS brand Soupe de Poissons / Fish soup (800g glass jar; Lot 26036; Use by 14/09/2025) due to instability of pH, leading to risk of Clostridium botulinum growth.

Food Safety Recall (France): SILVE INTERMARCHE recalls ITINERAIRE DES SAVEURS brand PATES GIRASOLE AU PESTO, BASILIC ET PIGNON / Sunflower pasta with pesto, basil and pine nuts (250g; Lots 29/09 31 through 29/09 36; Use by 03/11/2023) due to foreign matter contamination (hard plastic).

Food Safety Recall (France): NIKAIADIS LECLERC NICE ST ISIDORE recalls Négroni brand Jambon cru italien / Raw Italian ham (Lot 02697076; Use by 17/01/2024) due to foreign matter contamination (white plastic clip).

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Ludwig Stocker Hofpfisterei GmbH recalls Various breads and baked goods (Produced 09.10.2023) due to foreign matter contamination (glass splinters). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): LATTERIA SOCIALE DI CIVIDALE E VALLI DEL NATISONE S.C.A. recalls FORMAGGIO SAPORITO DELLE VALLI / Cheese (approx 6.5 kg; Production date/lot 03/07/2023) due to E. coli O157 contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): SNOWBRAND AUSTRALIA trading as Unicorn Cheese recalls Unicorn Classic Camembert and Community Co French Style Camembert (125g; Batch code 123123E; Best before 8 Nov 2023; Est no. 287) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

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Pet treats recalled due to Salmonella — UPDATED October 10, 2023

Carolina Prime Pet, Inc. (Lenoir, NC) has recalled five varieties of jerky pet treats after being notified by its customer that the products tested positive for Salmonella.

The recall was initiated on September 27, 2023, but was not publicized, as all of the affected products were supplied to a single customer, Hollywood Feed, LLC (Memphis, TN).

The following items were recalled:

Hollywood Feed brand CAROLINA Made USA FARM RAISED BEEF JERKY (5oz / 141g; Lot 20082323; Best by 02/25/25 L2)
Hollywood Feed brand CAROLINA Made USA FARMED RAISED CHICKEN JERKY (5oz / 141g; Lot 20082323; Best by 02/25/25 L2)
Hollywood Feed brand CAROLINA Made WILD ELK JERKY (5oz / 141g; Lot 20082423; Best by 02/24/25 L2)
Hollywood Feed brand CAROLINA Made PORK JERKY (6oz / 141g; Lot 20082523; Best by 02/25/2025 L2)
Hollywood Feed brand CAROLINA Made USA FARMED RAISED TURKEY (6oz / 141g; Lot 20082423; Best by 02/24/2025 L2)

UPDATE (October 10, 2023): eFoodAlert has been advised by the manufacturer that all of the recalled items were withdrawn from the Hollywood Feed warehouse, and that none of the items were distributed for sale. Prompt action by both companies prevented the contaminated product from reaching consumers.

The manufacturer has recalled only one other product since its inception in 1998, according to FDA Enforcement Report archives. In 2012, Carolina Prime Pet recalled two lot codes of Priority Total Pet Care All Natural Bullstrips after the Colorado Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a sample of the product.

The FDA conducted on-site inspections of the company’s manufacturing facility on four occasions in the past, beginning in 2009. In all cases, the inspectors found no objectionable conditions.

The most recent inspection was conducted ten years ago, in September 2013.

What consumers should know

Jerky pet treats may be contaminated with Salmonella. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling any of these treats, and discourage young children from handling them.