Raw pet food brand Darwin’s Natural Pet Products has issued its second recall since December 2017 for two products that have tested positive for Salmonella bacteria.
Since these products were manufactured in November, the announcement explains that the company thinks most of the affected lots have already been eaten “without incident.” The two affected lots are:
- ZooLogics Chicken and Vegetable Meals for Dogs (manufactured 11/2/17)
- ZooLogics Duck and Vegetable Meals for Dogs (manufactured 11/16/17)
A letter sent out by the company to its customers reads:
We believe most of this product has already been consumed, for the most part without incident, as most dogs’ and cats’ digestive systems are able to process pathogens such as Salmonella without harm (we are aware of a single case of a pet being affected, which involved a dog who was already ill with other conditions).
Pathogens (such as Salmonella, E.coli and Listeria) – while being many raw-feeders’ top concern – are actually a relatively low risk associated with raw food. This is because, while these bacteria are pathogenic to humans, they are generally not harmful to dogs and cats. Pets’ stomachs have higher levels of acid than humans, making them hostile to such bacteria, and their digestive tracts are shorter, giving any surviving bacteria little time to multiply. This is why pets routinely, without harm, eat items that would make a person sick.
Having said that, pets with undeveloped or weak immune systems (I.e., puppies/kittens, older dogs, sick dogs) may have some risk. In these cases, we recommend cooking the food lightly (i.e., to 165 degrees) to help eliminate pathogenic risks
You can read the entire letter by clicking here.
(h/t: Dog Food Advisor)
