A healthy diet is important for everyone, even your pets! When picking out the right food for your pet, there are important things to consider.

Raw pet foods can make pets and people sick

• CDC does not recommend feeding raw diets to pets.
• Germs like Salmonella and Listeria bacteria have been found in raw pet foods, even packaged ones sold in stores. These germs can make your pets sick. Your family also can get sick by handling the raw food or by taking care of your pet.

If you decide to feed your pet raw food

Wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling raw pet food.

• Wash your hands with soap and water right after handling any raw pet food.
• Clean and disinfect all surfaces that the raw food touched, like countertops, microwaves, refrigerators and objects like knives, forks, and bowls.

Safely store and handle raw pet food.

• Freeze raw pet food until you are ready to use it.
• Keep raw pet food away from other food in your refrigerator or freezer.
• Don’t thaw frozen raw pet foods on a countertop or in a sink.
• Throw away any food your pet doesn’t eat.

Safely play with your pet after he or she eats.

• Don’t let your pet lick around your mouth and face after eating.
• If you do play with your pet after they have just eaten, wash your hands, and any other parts of your body they licked, with soap and water.
• Don’t let your pet lick any of your open wounds or areas with broken skin.

Tips to stay healthy while feeding your pet

• Always wash your hands with soap and water right after handling pet food or treats; this is the most important step to prevent illness.
• When possible, store pet food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and away from reach of young children.
• Don’t use your pet’s feeding bowl to scoop food. Use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon, or cup.
• Always follow any storage instructions on pet food bags or containers.

If you feed your pet reptile or amphibian frozen or live rodents

• Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling frozen or live feeder rodents.
• Thaw frozen feeder rodents in a dedicated container out of the kitchen.
• Never feed wild rodents to your pet.

Dry and canned pet food

Dry and canned pet food also can be contaminated with germs. Before making any changes to your pet’s diet, talk with your veterinarian.

Children and pets

• Young children are at risk for illness because their immune systems are still developing and because they are more likely than others to put their fingers or other items into their mouths.
• Children younger than 5 years old should not touch or eat pet food, treats, or supplements.
• Adults should supervise young children when washing hands.

Giving your pet a nutritious diet is important to keep them healthy. All pets have specific needs that differ by age, physical and mental health, and their activity level. The food and treats you feed your pet may even affect your health – sometimes pet foods and treats contain germs that can make you sick, like Salmonella. Follow these tips when feeding your pet to keep you both happy and healthy.

Make feeding time healthy

• Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling pet food or treats.
• Keep pet food separate from human food when possible and out of reach from young kids.
• Use a clean, dedicated scooper for pet food.

Don’t feed raw diets

Raw pet food, just like raw meat that humans cook to eat, is more likely to carry germs like Salmonella and Listeria. These germs can make both people and pets sick. Some pets, like reptiles, only eat feeder rodents. Feeder rodents, whether live or frozen, can also spread germs.

If you choose to feed your pet raw food, or if you are feeding a reptile feeder rodents:

• Wash hands after handling the food.
• Clean and disinfect all surfaces food touched.
• Freeze raw pet food until you are ready to use it.
• Thaw frozen pet foods in your refrigerator away from your food.
• Thaw frozen feeder rodents in a dedicated container out of the kitchen.

Safety around pets during and after feeding

• Teach children not to bother pets when they are eating.
• Don’t let your pet lick around your mouth, face, open wounds, or areas with broken skin after eating.
• Feed reptiles with tongs when using feeder rodents. Don’t handle reptiles after handling rodents to reduce your risk of bites.

In a two-year study spanning from October 2010 through July 2012, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) screened over 1,000 samples of pet food for bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses. (The illnesses are called “foodborne” because the bacteria are carried, or “borne,” in or on contaminated food.) The study showed that, compared to other types of pet food tested, raw pet food was more likely to be contaminated with disease-causing bacteria.

The Pet Food Study

Raw pet food was not included in the first year of the study. In the second year, CVM expanded the study to include 196 samples of commercially available raw dog and cat food. The center bought a variety of raw pet food online from different manufacturers and had the products shipped directly to six participating laboratories. The raw pet food products were usually frozen in tube-like packages and made from ground meat or sausage.

The participating laboratories analyzed the raw pet food for harmful bacteria, including Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. In past projects, CVM had monitored dog and cat food for the presence of Salmonella. But before this study, the center “had not investigated the occurrence of Listeria in pet food,” said Renate Reimschuessel, a veterinarian at CVM’s Office of Research and one of the study’s principal investigators. Dr. Reimschuessel further noted that “quite a large percentage of the raw foods for pets we tested were positive for the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.” (Pathogens are disease-causing germs, like some bacteria. Not all bacteria are harmful pathogens, though. Some bacteria are helpful to people and animals, such as those that live in the intestines and contribute to a healthy gut.)

Of the 196 raw pet food samples analyzed, 15 were positive for Salmonella and 32 were positive for L. monocytogenes (see Table 1).

Based on the study’s results, CVM is concerned about the public health risk of raw pet food diets. As Dr. Reimschuessel explained, the study “identified a potential health risk for the pets eating the raw food, and for the owners handling the product.” Owners who feed their pet a raw diet may have a higher risk of getting infected with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness from Raw Pet Food

If you choose to feed raw pet food to your pet, be aware that you can infect yourself with Salmonella or L. monocytogenes by spreading the bacteria from the contaminated food to your mouth. For instance, you may accidentally ingest the bacteria if you touch your mouth while preparing the raw food or after handling a contaminated utensil. If you get Salmonella or L. monocytogenes on your hands or clothing, you can also spread the bacteria to other people, objects, and surfaces.

Here are some tips to prevent infection with Salmonella and L. monocytogenes:

• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) after handling raw pet food, and after touching surfaces or objects that have come in contact with the raw food. Potential contaminated surfaces include countertops and the inside of refrigerators and microwaves. Potential contaminated objects include kitchen utensils, feeding bowls, and cutting boards.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects that come in contact with raw pet food. First wash with hot soapy water and then follow with a disinfectant. A solution of 1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart (4 cups) water is an effective disinfectant. For a larger supply of the disinfectant solution, add ¼ cup bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) water. You can also run items through the dishwasher after each use to clean and disinfect them.
• Freeze raw meat and poultry products until you are ready to use them, and thaw them in your refrigerator or microwave, not on your countertop or in your sink.
• Carefully handle raw and frozen meat and poultry products. Don’t rinse raw meat, poultry, fish, and seafood. Bacteria in the raw juices can splash and spread to other food and surfaces.
• Keep raw food separate from other food.
• Immediately cover and refrigerate what your pet doesn’t eat, or throw the leftovers out safely.
• If you’re using raw ingredients to make your own cooked pet food, be sure to cook all food to a proper internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer. Thorough cooking kills Salmonella, L. monocytogenes, and other harmful foodborne bacteria.
• Don’t kiss your pet around its mouth, and don’t let your pet lick your face. This is especially important after your pet has just finished eating raw food.
• Thoroughly wash your hands after touching or being licked by your pet. If your pet gives you a “kiss,” be sure to also wash your face.

No matter what type of pet food you feed your pet, you should always follow these safe handling instructions.

The Difference between Cleaning and Disinfecting

Cleaning removes germs (like bacteria) and dirt from surfaces and objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs and dirt. This process doesn’t necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, cleaning lowers the number of germs and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces and objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals, such as bleach, to kill germs. This process doesn’t necessarily clean dirty surfaces and objects or remove germs, but by killing germs after cleaning, disinfecting can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

Source: How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

You’ve probably heard of Salmonella and are familiar with the symptoms of salmonellosis. But you may not have heard much about the lesser known foodborne illness listeriosis caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. After going through several name changes since the bacteria were first described in 1911, the name was officially changed to Listeria monocytogenes in 1940 to honor Joseph Lister, the British surgeon who discovered that sterilizing surgical instruments before operations reduced the risk of infections.

In 1929, A. Nyfeldt reported the first confirmed cases of listeriosis in people. But L. monocytogenes weren’t identified as a major cause of foodborne illness in people until the 1980s when several large outbreaks occurred.

The Statistics at a Glance

Compared to other foodborne illnesses, listeriosis is rare but very serious. Even with adequate antibiotic treatment, the disease has a high mortality rate of 20 to 30 percent. Over 90 percent of people with listeriosis are hospitalized, often in intensive care units. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die. The hospitalization rate is 94%, meaning that of the approximately 1,600 people who get the disease each year, about 1,500 will be hospitalized.

Characteristics

L. monocytogenes is widespread in the environment, especially in soil and water. The bacteria can survive in soil for many months. Animals, particularly cattle, can carry L. monocytogenes without appearing sick and shed the bacteria in their feces.

The bacteria are able to live in a wide range of conditions and environments—they can tolerate both acidic and salty conditions, both high and low temperatures, and a fairly low moisture content. These characteristics allow L. monocytogenes to survive a long time in a variety of food products and food processing plants. Because the bacteria can multiply and persist in food processing plants for years—even more than 10 years in one documented case—L. monocytogenes is especially hard to control and can result in intermittent contamination of food.

Unlike most bacteria, L. monocytogenes can grow and multiply at low temperatures, making the bacteria a potential problem even in properly refrigerated food. One study also found a relatively high percentage of frozen raw beef products contaminated with L. monocytogenes. This finding highlights the ability of the bacteria to thrive in cold environments (Pao & Ettinger).

How People Become Infected

People become infected with L. monocytogenes by eating contaminated food. People can also become infected by handling contaminated food, such as contaminated pet food, or touching contaminated surfaces and utensils and then accidentally transferring the bacteria from their hands to their mouths. Babies can become infected in utero or at birth if their mothers ate contaminated food during pregnancy.

The bacteria can contaminate a variety of food, such as:

• Raw meat;
• Ready-to-eat processed meat such as hot dogs and deli meat (both factory-sealed packages and products sold at deli counters);
• Raw vegetables;
• Refrigerated pates;
• Ready-to-eat smoked seafood and raw seafood;
• Prepared or stored salads, including coleslaw and fresh fruit salad;
• Melons;
• Soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk; and
• Unpasteurized milk and milk products.

Pasteurization, cooking, and most disinfecting agents kill L. monocytogenes. However, in some ready-to-eat food, such as hot dogs and deli meats, contamination may occur after the food is cooked in the factory but before it’s packaged. These products can be safely eaten if reheated until steaming hot.

Listeriosis in People

Listeriosis occurs almost exclusively in pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems (such as those with cancer or other diseases). After a person ingests L. monocytogenes, the bacteria grow quickly in the liver and then move into the bloodstream and can invade many places in the body, including the:

• Brain;
• Membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (called the “meninges”);
• Gastrointestinal, or digestive, tract (the stomach and intestines); and
• Bloodstream.

Pregnant Women and Newborns

Pregnant women are 18 times more likely to get listeriosis than other healthy adults, and 16 to 27% of all L. monocytogenes infections are in pregnant women. Scientists don’t know why pregnant women are so susceptible to the disease. It usually affects pregnant women who are healthy and don’t have other risk factors.

Diagnosing listeriosis in pregnant women is difficult because they usually don’t have the gastrointestinal symptoms—such as vomiting and diarrhea—that are normally seen with a foodborne illness. The most common, and sometimes only, symptom of listeriosis in pregnant women is fever. They often have a flu-like illness with non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches, which are often temporary and go away on their own. Some pregnant women show no symptoms. In a series of 191 cases of listeriosis in pregnancy, more than one-quarter (29%) of the women had no symptoms (Lamont et al).

Compared to listeriosis in non-pregnant people, the disease in pregnant women has a longer incubation period—the length of time between when a person ingests the bacteria and first shows symptoms. In one study, the median incubation period in pregnant women was 27.5 days, with a range of 17 to 67 days (Goulet et al, 2013). This long incubation period adds to the difficulty in diagnosing listeriosis in pregnant women.

While listeriosis in the mother is mild, infection in the fetus and newborn can be severe. Listeriosis can develop at any time during pregnancy, and the disease causes miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and life-threatening infection of the newborn, such as a blood infection, respiratory distress or pneumonia, and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord). Listeriosis is one of the most common causes of meningitis in newborns.

With a mortality rate of 20 to 30%, newborns suffer the most serious consequences of listeriosis. They have either early- or late-onset disease depending on when their symptoms first appear.

Non-pregnant People

Healthy children and adults occasionally get listeriosis, but rarely become seriously ill. In healthy, non-pregnant people, listeriosis can cause gastroenteritis—mainly diarrhea—accompanied by a fever. Other symptoms may include vomiting, joint pain, headache, and body pain. This form of listeriosis has a much shorter incubation period, with symptoms typically occurring within 24 hours after a person ingests a high number of the bacteria. The illness is usually mild and goes away on its own. The diarrhea can last up to 5 days.

The elderly and people with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of getting a more severe form of listeriosis, including:

• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
• Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis); and
• Infection of the blood.

In a joint risk assessment report on L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat food, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization found that the elderly (people 60 years and older) were 2.6 times more likely to get listeriosis than the general healthy population. In the U.S. in 2011, the median age of non-pregnant people diagnosed with a severe form of listeriosis was 71 years.

Symptoms of listeriosis vary depending on the form and can come on suddenly. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

In contrast to the incubation period for other, more common foodborne illnesses, like salmonellosis, the incubation period for listeriosis can be long and also varies depending on the form. Cases involving a blood infection have a fairly short incubation period, with a median of 2 days. For cases involving encephalitis or meningitis, the incubation period is longer, with a median of 9 days.

There is also a skin form of listeriosis that results from intact skin coming into direct contact with the bacteria. The skin form is rare and mostly seen in people with at-risk jobs, such as veterinarians or farmers, who are exposed to sick animals or diseased tissues, especially after an animal has a pregnancy loss caused by L. monocytogenes.

Listeriosis in Animals

L. monocytogenes can infect many animal species. Signs of disease are mainly seen in ruminants, such as cattle, goats, and sheep. Sheep are particularly sensitive to the bacteria. Listeriosis is one of the most common causes of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in adult ruminants. Infected animals most commonly show severe neurologic signs, such as loss of balance, circling, and unusual body spasms. Fever, loss of appetite, and decreased activity level are also usually seen. Some ruminant herds have had large numbers of late-term pregnancy losses. Newborn ruminants typically develop a blood infection. Listeriosis in ruminants most often occurs in the winter and early spring and is likely caused by the animals eating spoiled silage.

Listeriosis is more common in rabbits and rodents than dogs and cats. Rabbits and chinchillas (South American rodents) are particularly sensitive to the bacteria. The disease usually causes a blood infection. Pregnancy loss and uterine inflammation are also common, especially in chinchillas. These reproductive problems are often associated with gastrointestinal signs, such as diarrhea or constipation. Large outbreaks of listeriosis have been seen in captive rabbits and rodents. The source of infection in these outbreaks was thought to be contaminated food.

L. monocytogenes rarely cause disease in dogs and cats and, even when infected, pets usually have only mild gastrointestinal signs, such as diarrhea and vomiting. However, more serious signs are possible, such as fever, muscle pain, breathing problems, pregnancy loss, and even death. After consuming contaminated pet food, dogs and cats often don’t show any signs of listeriosis but can become carriers of the bacteria. This means that even if the pets appear healthy, they can still shed L. monocytogenes in their stool and then spread the bacteria to the home environment and to people and other pets in the household. For example, cats can spread L. monocytogenes through shared litter boxes or when roaming throughout the house, such as on kitchen countertops. One way dogs can spread the bacteria is when they have stool accidents inside the home. Pet waste from both sick and healthy pets can be a source of infection for people.

Salmonella bacteria cause the foodborne illness salmonellosis. Named after Daniel E. Salmon, a veterinarian who spent his career studying animal diseases for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Salmonella bacteria have been known to make people sick since 1885.

The Statistics at a Glance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that each year in the U.S., there are about 1.35 million cases of salmonellosis, with 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths. Contaminated food is the source for most of these cases. Salmonellosis is the second leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., after norovirus.

Characteristics

There are many different groups, called serotypes, of Salmonella. Scientists classify each serotype based on the structures on the bacteria’s surface. Some Salmonella serotypes are found in only one kind of animal or in only one place. Others are found in many different animals and all over the world. The serotypes also differ in how often they cause illness in people and in what types of food and other places they contaminate. Some serotypes can cause severe illness in people, while other cause milder illness. Scientists have described more than 2,500 Salmonella serotypes, but less than 100 cause most cases of salmonellosis in people. Both FDA and CDC consider all serotypes capable of infecting people.

Freezing and drying, which typically prevent the growth of bacteria, do not kill Salmonella. The bacteria can survive several weeks in dry environments and several months in wet environments.

How People Become Infected

People commonly get infected with Salmonella by eating contaminated food, such as:

• Raw or undercooked meat and poultry products;
• Raw or undercooked eggs and egg products;
• Raw or unpasteurized milk and other dairy products; and
• Raw fruits and vegetables.

People can also become infected with Salmonella by handling contaminated food, and then accidentally transferring the bacteria from their hands to their mouth. If people get Salmonella on their hands or clothes, they can spread the bacteria to other people, objects, and surfaces.

Pet food can sometimes be the source of Salmonella infection. If people handle contaminated pet food or a contaminated utensil and then touch their mouth, they can accidentally ingest the bacteria. Pet food that contains raw or uncooked meat is more likely than processed pet food to test positive for Salmonella.

Many animals, especially cattle, chickens, rodents, reptiles, and amphibians, can naturally carry Salmonella in their intestines and show no signs of illness. People can get salmonellosis from handling these animals. Salmonella can also get on the inside and outside of cages, aquariums and terrariums. Feeder rodents fed to some pet reptiles and amphibians can be a source of the bacteria. Direct contact with feeder rodents or contaminated items in animal habitats can spread Salmonella to people.

Salmonellosis in People

Salmonella infection most often causes gastroenteritis, which can range from mild to severe. Symptoms in people start within 6 hours to 6 days after ingesting the bacteria and include:

• Fever;
• Diarrhea (which may be bloody);
• Nausea;
• Vomiting; and
• Stomach pain.

Most people recover from salmonellosis in 4 to 7 days without treatment. In some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the person needs to be hospitalized. In a person with severe diarrhea, the bacteria may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other places in the body. If this happens, the disease can be fatal unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Children under 5, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems (such as those with cancer or other diseases) have a higher risk of getting salmonellosis and are more likely to have severe symptoms.

Salmonellosis in Dogs and Cats

Salmonellosis is uncommon in dogs and cats, but they can be carriers of the bacteria. This means that even if the pets don’t show symptoms of salmonellosis, they can still shed Salmonella in their stool and saliva and then spread the bacteria to the home environment and to people and other pets in the household. For example, cats can spread Salmonella through shared litter boxes or when roaming throughout the house, such as on kitchen countertops. Some ways dogs can spread the bacteria is when they give people kisses or have stool accidents inside the home. Pet waste from both sick and healthy pets can be a source of infection for people.

When the disease is seen in an adult dog or cat, the animal typically has another infection or health problem at the same time. Puppies and kittens are more likely to show signs of disease. Signs of salmonellosis in dogs and cats include:

• Vomiting;
• Diarrhea (which may be bloody);
• Fever;
• Loss of appetite; and
• Decreased activity level.

Salmonellosis in Horses

Salmonellosis is a common cause of diarrhea in adult horses. Horses can become infected with Salmonella by coming into contact with the bacteria in a contaminated environment, eating contaminated feed, or drinking contaminated water. Horses can also become infected by direct contact with animals that are actively shedding the bacteria in their stool.

Stress appears to play an important role. Often, a horse sick with salmonellosis has recently:

• Had surgery;
• Been hospitalized;
• Been transported;
• Had a change in feed;
• Had another disease, particularly colic; or
• Been treated with antibiotics.

There are three forms of salmonellosis in adult horses:

• Carrier—horses appear healthy but intermittently shed Salmonella in small numbers in their stool. Carrier horses can spread the bacteria to other horses by direct contact or by contaminating the environment or feed and water sources. If stressed, carrier horses may show signs of salmonellosis.
• Mild—horses have a decreased activity level, fever, loss of appetite, and soft but not watery stool. Signs may last 4 to 5 days and usually go away on their own. After recovery, horses may continue to shed Salmonella in their stool for days to months.
• Sudden and severe—horses have a severely decreased activity level, fever, and loss of appetite. These signs come on suddenly. Diarrhea develops 6 to 24 hours after the fever. The diarrhea is fluid and foul smelling, and horses can become dehydrated quickly. There may be signs of stomach pain, straining, or severe colic. Horses may develop a blood infection and clotting problems. The disease progresses quickly, and if untreated, this form of salmonellosis is often fatal.

Salmonellosis can occur in newborn foals, causing a blood infection followed by diarrhea.

Many dog owners know not to toss a turkey or chicken bone to their dog; those bones are just too brittle. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the risk goes beyond that, especially when it comes to the “bone treats” you may see at the store.

What’s a Bone Treat?

Bone treats are real bones that have been processed, sometimes flavored, and packaged for dogs. Giving your dog a “bone treat” might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet.

FDA has received about 68 reports of pet illnesses related to "bone treats,” which differ from uncooked butcher-type bones because they are processed and packaged for sale as dog treats. The reports were received between November 1, 2010 and September 12, 2017. A variety of commercially-available bone treats for dogs—including treats described as “Ham Bones,” “Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones”—were listed in the reports. The products may be dried through a smoking process or by baking, and may contain other ingredients such as preservatives, seasonings, and smoke flavorings.

So if you’re planning to give your dog a stocking full of bone treats this holiday season, you may want to reconsider. According to Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the FDA, “Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet.”

Illnesses Reported

Illnesses reported to FDA by owners and veterinarians in dogs that have eaten bone treats have included:

• Gastrointestinal obstruction (blockage in the digestive tract)
• Choking
• Cuts and wounds in the mouth or on the tonsils
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bleeding from the rectum, and/or
• Death. Approximately fifteen dogs reportedly died after eating a bone treat.

The reports, sent in by pet owners and veterinarians, involved about 90 dogs (some reports included more than one dog). In addition, FDA received seven reports of product problems, such as moldy-appearing bones, or bone treats splintering when chewed by the pet.

Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe

Here are some tips to keep your dog safe:

• Chicken bones and other bones from the kitchen table can cause injury when chewed by pets, too. So be careful to keep platters out of reach when you’re cooking or the family is eating.
• Be careful what you put in the trash can. Dogs are notorious for helping themselves to the turkey carcass or steak bones disposed of there.
• Talk with your veterinarian about other toys or treats that are most appropriate for your dog. There are many available products made with different materials for dogs to chew on.

“We recommend supervising your dog with any chew toy or treat, especially one she hasn’t had before,” adds Stamper. “And if she ‘just isn’t acting right,’ call your veterinarian right away!”

CDC recently released a food safety alert for Salmonella linked to Jif brand peanut butter. Salmonella cases have been reported in people in 12 states. Many pet owners use peanut butter as a treat for their pets. Did you know that foods contaminated with Salmonella can make pets sick, too? Check your peanut butter to make sure you and your pet stay healthy.

Throw out recalled peanut butter

• The recalled peanut butter was sold at stores worldwide.
• Many types and sizes were recalled.
• Identify recalled products by their lot code. If the first four numbers are 1274 through 2140 and the next three numbers are 425, the product has been recalled.
• Even if you or your pet ate some of the peanut butter and no one has gotten sick, throw the rest away.

Don’t feed pets recalled peanut butter

• Don’t eat recalled peanut butter or feed it to your pets.
• Wash surfaces and containers that may have touched the recalled peanut butter.
• Clean any pet toys that may have contained peanut butter.

Call your veterinarian if your pet gets sick

• If your pet develops symptoms after eating recalled peanut butter, call your veterinarian and let them know your pet ate a recalled food.
• Symptoms to watch out for in pets include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or loss of appetite.
• Pets may not get sick after eating food contaminated with Salmonella.

If you consider the family dog, well, family—and are apt to toss him a piece of your food now and then—proceed with caution. Some foods meant for human consumption can be dangerous, and even deadly, to your dog.

How are people and animals different when it comes to food?

According to Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an animal’s body processes food much differently. “Our bodies may break down foods or other chemicals that a dog’s can’t tolerate,” she says.

And while sometimes people can have severe allergic reactions to foods, it’s different for dogs. “Allergies in animals tend to manifest themselves more in skin or ear issues,” she explains.

Moreover, a food might harm one dog and not another. It depends on a number of factors, including the animal’s genetic makeup and size, as well as the amount that animal eats. “A big lab that eats a bar of dark chocolate may not have any problems,” she says, whereas a Chihuahua could get dangerously ill.

What Foods Top the List?

“In summer, be particularly careful of foods eaten at picnics and barbecues,” Stamper says. Among the foods you want to withhold from your dog are:

• Raw meat, which can contain E. coli, Salmonella, or other harmful bacteria. If you’re making hamburger patties or setting out steaks and chicken breasts for the barbecue, for instance, make sure they’re well out of reach of your counter-surfing canines; you’re not doing them any favors by tossing a chunk or two. “Food safety is important to you and your pet,” Stamper cautions. Don’t handle raw meat and then give your dog a treat unless you’ve washed your hands first. And remember it works the other way around, too. “People can get sick after handling contaminated dog food, not washing their hands, and then using their hands to eat a sandwich or a slice of pizza,” Stamper says.
• Grapes, raisins, and currants can cause kidney failure in some dogs. Stamper says not all dogs are affected, but if you think you’re handing your dog a healthy snack, you could be disastrously wrong. But what about other fruits? For instance, can dogs eat apples and bananas? Stamper says yes—just make sure that with apples, you don’t feed your dog the core or seeds.
• Fried and fatty foods can not only give your dog a stomach ache, but can also cause a potentially life-threatening disease called pancreatitis. Even if your dog is eyeing the fried chicken with longing, resist the temptation to give him his own piece to chew on.
• Moldy foods are not something you would feed your family, and your dog shouldn’t eat them either. If you put moldy cheese rinds or hamburger buns in the trash can, make sure your dog doesn’t then get into the garbage. By the same token, if you have a compost heap and it’s the first place your dog makes a beeline for, be sure the moldy scraps are well out of reach.
• Onions, garlic, and chives (as well as onion and garlic powder) can be harmful to your dog, especially in large amounts. If you’ve put a lot of onions and garlic powder in your salsa, marinade, or beans, don’t let your dog get into the leftovers.
• Salty snacks, in large quantities, could also cause problems in your dog. “Feeding the odd potato chip or pretzel probably won’t do any harm,” Stamper says. But if your dog gets into a whole bag of them, he could get really sick. Make sure your dog has access to plenty of water at all times, especially if he gets into salty snacks.

Two More Ingredients Your Dog Should Avoid

Macadamia nuts can be very harmful to dogs. If you’re packing white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, make sure they stay in the picnic basket and out of reach of your dog.

Finally, many dog owners know chocolate is bad for their dogs, but they may not realize that xylitol, a sugar substitute used in many sugarless products, can be deadly for him. Xylitol is found in sugarless gum, candies, oral products, and some peanut butters and other nut butters. “If you feed your dog pills coated in peanut butter, or put peanut butter in their hollow chew toys, make sure to check the list of ingredients first to make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol,” Stamper says.

Food and Snack Bags

Snacks are available in your home, and so, sometimes, are the bags they come in. As your pets search the house for tempting treats, they may find find an empty potato chip bag on the floor that you or your child forgot to toss into the trash. Pets can smell the food inside the bags or just be curious about the bag itself and poke their heads inside. This can be dangerous.

Food bags, especially the mylar-type potato chip, cereal, and snack bags can be dangerous for your pets, and dogs, especially, may sniff them out. These bags are thin enough that if a dog puts his head far enough into one and breathes in, the bag can wrap around his nose and mouth, suffocating him. The more your dog breathes in, the tighter the bag will get around his face, like shrink wrap, and he can't easily pull the bag off with his paws. Make sure that snack bags are closed and put away in a cabinet or, if empty, tossed into a trash bin that your pets can't get into.  

A Word about Cats

Why the focus on dogs? Stamper says that cats are far pickier eaters than dogs and do not often get into trouble by eating foods that will harm them. She adds, however, that cats are super-sensitive to onions, garlic, and onion and garlic powders, so make sure your cat has no opportunity to eat foods made with these ingredients.

The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) receives a high volume of questions about pet food and contaminants from a range of stakeholders. Due to the breadth and depth of these inquiries, we are not able to respond individually to every inquiry because it would divert resources from addressing ongoing and emerging public health issues. In the interest of efficiency and transparency, CVM is posting our answers to some recent questions about contaminants in pet food. We will update this page as new information or questions emerge.

1. Can pet food contain residues of pentobarbital?

No. FDA considers pet food containing pentobarbital residues to be adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and will act to remove it from the market. Pentobarbital residues are not affected by rendering or canning temperatures and pressures (such as heat treatments capable of killing pathogenic organisms), and therefore we do not allow the use of animals euthanized with a chemical substance such as pentobarbital in the manufacture of pet foods. There is currently no set tolerance for pentobarbital in pet food and detection of its presence renders the product adulterated.

2. Is it possible to prevent pentobarbital residues in pet food?

Yes. We believe that the new requirements that the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) places on food manufacturers will help prevent this kind of contamination. FSMA requires certain animal food facilities to create and implement a food safety plan, including an analysis of potential hazards and determining if there are hazards requiring preventive controls to reduce or eliminate those safety hazards. FDA published a draft guidance identifying residues of pentobarbital as an example of a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard that would require a preventive control.

3. Who is responsible for preventing residues of pentobarbital in pet food?

In general, pet food manufacturers are responsible for taking appropriate steps to ensure that the food they produce is safe and properly labeled. One way that a manufacturer can do this is by taking steps to verify the identity and safety of the ingredients they receive from their suppliers. There are several different players connected to the issue of pentobarbital in animal food, including livestock producers, horse owners, veterinarians, renderers, haulers, and animal food manufacturers, and each has a role in preventing pet food contamination from pentobarbital residues. FDA has engaged with many of these stakeholders to communicate that no level of pentobarbital in pet food is acceptable and the agency is encouraging them to work together to fully investigate the issue and determine appropriate solutions. We will continue to follow up on complaints received, positive samples, and/or violative inspections.

4. Is pet food that contains tissues from diseased animals or from animals that died other than by slaughter considered adulterated under the FD&C Act?

Yes. Under the FD&C Act, food that is made from a diseased animal or an animal that died other than by slaughter is adulterated. However, federal agencies have discretion to enforce laws and FDA takes action based on scientific review and risk. We received a Citizen Petition (Docket No. FDA-2016-P-3578) requesting that we reconsider our policy and after thorough review, FDA denied that petition. FDA’s final response letter details the agency’s rationale for this determination.

It is important to remember that regardless of any enforcement discretion policy, the agency can and will act when necessary to protect public health.

5. Is pet food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes) adulterated under the FD&C Act?

Yes. Pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes) are considered adulterants in both human and animal food. Although many animals consuming this food may not become sick themselves, they can become carriers and expose their human family members to pathogenic bacteria. This is especially problematic with young children, the elderly, or people who are immunocompromised. For example, in March 2018, two children became ill with a strain of Salmonella that matched the strain found in samples of the raw pet food that was fed to the family dog.

6. Why doesn’t FDA enforce every violation of the law?

Due to competing priorities and resource limitations, government agencies cannot act against every violation of the law. The same is true of FDA’s enforcement of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The use of enforcement discretion allows FDA to concentrate on the most egregious violations and the ones that present the highest risk to animal and human health.

While scrolling through your morning emails and social media feeds, you find that the manufacturer of your dog’s food has announced a recall. You realize that the recall is for just one batch of the same flavor that your dog, Petunia, eats. How do you know if your dog’s food is from the recalled batch? The lot number on the bag of food can tell you! Searching the bag, you find some numbers and letters; which ones are part of the lot number? By knowing the correct code to use, you can quickly identify whether Petunia’s food is part of a recall. Also, should you ever have a problem with your pet’s food, you’ll be able to help FDA and the pet food company more quickly trace a potential problem.

What is a Lot Number?

A lot number (also known as a “lot code”) can be a long or short string of printed numbers and letters found on pet food packaging. Though it’s not required, most companies include the lot number on their products in case there’s a problem with a specific batch of pet food.

The lot number can be found in different areas on different pet food products. Often, it is near the “Best by” or expiration date. Generally, for pet food that comes in a bag or pouch, the lot number is printed on the bottom or side of the bag or pouch or a few inches down from the top. For canned pet food, the lot number is most often printed on the bottom of the can. Sometimes, though, the lot number is printed on a strip that you may rip off without knowing it when you open the bag or it’s printed on the can’s lid. It’s a good idea to find the lot number on the packaging first, before opening the food, in case the lot number gets separated from the original packaging.

Figure 1: Example of Lot Number

Why is the Lot Number Important?

The lot number is a crucial piece of information when trying to identify if a product has been recalled or if you’re reporting a potential problem with a pet food or treat to FDA or to the company. The lot number helps identify a specific batch of pet food or treats. A single pet food company may make a pet food in several plants around the United States. The lot number tells the company when the product was made and in which manufacturing plant, so that problems can be quickly addressed. It also allows a pet food company to quickly pull or recall a specific batch without having to recall all batches from store shelves. FDA uses the lot number in discussions with the company about a specific product, when needed.

To report a pet food complaint to FDA, you can use the Safety Reporting Portal. The Safety Reporting Portal is an online tool for reporting problems with a variety of FDA-regulated products. You can use the portal to report problems with pet food, animal feed, and animal drugs. You can also use the portal to report problems with products for people, such as food, drugs, cosmetics, and vaccines. When you submit a complaint about a product through the portal, it’s helpful to include a picture of the lot number. If you are copying and typing the lot number into the portal, instead, try your best to identify all the numbers and letters or give your best guess at what you see. For example, sometimes the letter B looks like an 8, or the letter V can look like a U. Sometimes taking a picture on your phone and zooming in can make it easier to see all the numbers and letters. If you copy most of the lot number correctly, FDA can work with the company to identify the correct plant where the product was made. Unfortunately, less than half of the reports the agency receives includes the product’s lot number.

What’s the Difference Between a Lot Number, a UPC, a “Best By” Date, and a Packing Code?

When you looked at Petunia’s bag of dog food, you realized that pet food packages have several codes. It’s easy to get confused as to which code is the lot number. When in doubt, report all the codes you find on the packaging. FDA can work with the company to identify the product based on the information you provide, even if you don’t get the code completely correct. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different codes you may find on pet food packaging and where you can typically find them.

• Lot Number—This is the important code that FDA needs when you report a problem. It identifies a specific batch of product made by a specific company at a specific factory. The lot number doesn’t have a set number of characters and isn’t located in a certain spot on the package. You may have to search the entire package to find it.
• UPC—Universal Product Code (or “bar code”)—The UPC is a combination of black bars and numbers found in a small rectangle-shaped box on a product. This is the code that the cashier scans when you’re in the grocery checkout line. Although the UPC code identifies the company and the product, it doesn’t show which plant made the product. Companies aren’t required to put UPCs on pet food packages.
  Figure 2: Example of a UPC Code

• Best By,” “Use By,” “Use Before,” or “Sell By” Dates—Each of these dates, determined by the company, indicate when a product’s quality starts to decrease. For example, the product’s flavor or color may degrade after these dates. Some pet food companies may use these dates, in conjunction with lot numbers, to help identify product batches.

• Packing Code—The packing code is a series of letters and numbers printed on a can. This code helps the company track the product as it’s shipped out of state and it’s useful for finding products during a recall. The date and time found in some packing codes tell you when the product was made, not the product’s “best-by” date.

Tips to Keep Track of Your Pet Food Lot Numbers

Chances are that Petunia won’t have another problem with her pet food. Considering that there are more than 135 million pets in the U.S. and all the food manufactured to feed them, pet food recalls are relatively rare, considering the volume of food produced and the number of animals fed. Even so, it’s a good idea to keep all the codes somewhere handy, just in case. Here are some easy ways you can do that:

• Keep the food in its original package
  By keeping food in its original package, you keep the lot number and other information nearby. If you need to put the food into a different container, keep the food in the original package and then put it into the other container.
• Put the food in a different container, but cut out the lot number and tape it somewhere on the container
  Anytime you put your pet’s food into a different container, remember to cut out the lot number along with the other information and tape it somewhere on the container, even if you mix different pet food brands in the same container.
• Cut out the lot number and put it in an easy-to-remember place
  Taping product codes to a container may look messy. One way to keep the container less messy-looking is to cut out the lot number and the other information and put it somewhere you can easily find, like sticking it on your refrigerator or taping it to the inside of a kitchen cabinet door.
• Take a picture with your cell phone
  This is the least messy idea—take a dated picture with your cell phone! You’ll have it wherever you are and you’ll be able to access it quickly.

Save Your Lot Numbers!

The lot number is one of the most important pieces of information on a pet food package. If you have a problem with the food, the lot number is an important clue that helps the company quickly identify the product and where and when it was made. When you send FDA a report about your pet food complaint—complete with the lot number and any of the other codes on the packaging—you help the agency monitor the safety of pet food and treats sold in the U.S. Your pet food complaint also helps FDA quickly identify and respond to any problems.

For more information about how to report a pet food problem, visit our “How to Report a Pet Food Complaint” webpage. Remember, you can also report pet food problems to the company that made the product. The company’s contact information is usually located on the back of the bag or the back of the can’s label, near the list of ingredients.

Proper storage of pet food and treats maintains the products’ nutritional value and keeps information handy in case there’s a problem. Proper storage also prevents your pet from getting into his own food and eating too much or getting into your cat’s special diet food. Overeating or eating food that is meant for another pet can lead to health problems, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or more severe conditions.

Help keep your pet healthy by following these safety tips for storing pet food and treats:

• Store pet food and treats in the original container or bag. This allows you to have the UPC code, lot number, brand and manufacturer, and “best by” date easily available in case of a product defect or recall. “When you file a complaint about a pet food, the lot number and ‘best by’ date, along with the full product name, are important for you to provide,” explained William Burkholder, a veterinarian and pet food expert at FDA.
  
  Less than half of the pet food complaints that FDA receives include the lot number. The lot number helps FDA identify when and where the pet food or treat was made, making it easier and faster for the agency to address problems with a specific product.
• If you want to store dry pet food in another storage container, put the entire bag into the container rather than pour the kibble directly into it.
• If you need to pour the dry pet food into another storage container, make sure it’s clean, dry, and has a lid that fits snuggly. A lid helps to maintain the food’s freshness and to prevent your pet from getting into it. Be sure to save the UPC code, lot number, brand and manufacturer, and “best by” date. You can tape that information to the outside of the container so it’s handy (but remember to change it when you open a new bag of kibble).
  
  Wash and dry the storage container between finishing up one bag of kibble and filling it with another to get residual fat and crumbs off the container’s surfaces.
• Store dry pet food and unopened canned food in a cool and dry place. The temperature should be less than 80 F. Excess heat or moisture may cause the nutrients to break down. If your pet is overly persistent or clever at getting into her pet food, store it in a secure location.
• Promptly refrigerate or throw out unused or leftover canned and pouched pet food. Set your refrigerator to 40 F or below.
• Wash and dry pet food bowls and scooping utensils after each use. Wash water bowls daily.
• Keep pet treats in a secure location to prevent your pet from eating an entire supply of treats at once.
• Pet food and treats, like many other types of food, can be contaminated with harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. You can lower your risk of getting a foodborne illness from contaminated pet food by following these safe handling tips.

What to do When There’s a Problem—Reporting Problems with Pet Food & Treats

Problems with a pet food or treat include a foul odor, the can or pouch is swollen or leaking, you find a foreign object in the product, or your pet becomes sick after eating it. If your pet has a health problem related to a pet food or treat, stop feeding the product and call your veterinarian. FDA encourages you to report complaints about a pet food or treat to both FDA and the manufacturer of the product. You can report complaints to FDA electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator.

Food products that have been exposed to filth, like rats, mice and other rodents, can make you or your family members sick. This includes food and drinks for people as well as food for animals, like pet food, bird seed or fish flakes.

Throw away food products in plastic and paper containers. Then inspect any cans or glass containers of food. Cans or jars that are dented, crushed, swollen/bulging, or that have deep rusting, cracks, holes, punctures, or a broken seal should also be thrown away. Be sure to discard this food carefully and in a way that prevents it from being eaten by people or animals, like in a trash can with a secure cover. After throwing the products away, wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect the area where they were stored. Do not give away or donate these items because you could be putting other people’s health at risk. Also check to see if the product has been recalled. If so, follow the instructions in the recall notice for what to do with the product.

Here’s how to salvage food products that have been exposed to filth but that are in undamaged all-metal cans or hermetically sealed jars containing commercially prepared food and drinks.

1. Remove the labels from the can or jar because they could have dirt or bacteria on them. Keep notes on what is in each can so you can re-label them after sanitation. You may also want to use your cell phone to take a picture of each label for reference.
2. Wipe away any visible signs of filth from the container.
3. Thoroughly wash the cans or jars with soap and water, using hot water if it’s available.
4. Rinse the cans or jars with water that is safe for drinking. Make sure there is no dirt or soap residue left on the cans or jars before you sanitize them.
5. Sanitize cans and jars by immersing them in one of these ways:
   1. Place in water and allow the water to come to a boil and continue boiling for 2 minutes
   2. Place in a solution of 1 cup (8 oz/250 mL) of unscented household bleach (5.25% concentration) mixed with 5 gallons of water and soak for 15 minutes.
6. While the cans and jars are being sanitized, clean and disinfect the areas, including sinks, where you were working on the products. Wash your hands again before handling the newly-sanitized containers.
7. Air dry cans and jars for at least one hour before opening or storing.
8. If the labels were removed, then use a permanent marker to write on the container what is in it and what the expiration date is. Use the products you’ve sanitized as soon as possible.

Pet food and treats, like many other types of food, can be contaminated with harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses, such as salmonellosis and listeriosis. Although FDA continues our effort to reduce contamination of pet food, pet owners should be mindful of the potential risks. You can lower your risk of getting a foodborne illness from contaminated pet food and treats by following these simple and safe handling instructions:

Tips for Buying Pet Food

• Buy pet food products (cans, pouches, or bags) that are in good condition. Check the packaging for visible signs of damage, such as dents, tears, and discolorations.

Tips for Preparing Pet Food

• Begin and end with clean hands. Both before and after handling pet food and treats, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and hot water.
• Wash pet food bowls and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after each use.
• Do not use your pet’s food bowl as a scooping utensil. Use a clean scoop, spoon, or cup instead. Use the scooping utensil only for scooping pet food.
• Throw out old or spoiled pet food in a safe way, for example, by placing it in a securely tied plastic bag in a covered trash can.

Tips for Storing Pet Food

• Promptly refrigerate or throw out unused or leftover canned and pouched pet food. Tightly cover refrigerated pet food. Set your refrigerator to 40 F or below.
• Store dry pet food in a cool and dry place. The temperature should be less than 80 F. Excess heat or moisture can cause the nutrients to break down.
• Store dry pet food in its original bag and keep the top of the bag tightly folded down.
• Keep pet food in a secure location to prevent your pet from eating an entire supply at once.

Raw Pet Food

FDA thinks that raw pet food poses significant health risks to pets and pet owners. Because raw pet food is more likely than processed pet food to contain harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, the single best thing you can do to prevent infection with these foodborne bacteria is to not feed your pet a raw diet. However, we understand that some people prefer to feed raw pet food diets to their pets. If you choose to feed raw pet food, you should be aware of the risks.

Your family’s beloved pet has gotten sick, and you and your veterinarian are working together to find the cause. While there are many potential causes, one possibility you may discuss with your veterinarian is whether the illness could be linked to your pet's food.

Vet-LIRN (Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network), a program from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), is a network that connects laboratories around the country looking for clues that might solve animal illness mysteries related to animal foods or animal drugs. Vet-LIRN allows the FDA to partner with state and university Diagnostic Laboratories.

Just as the FDA investigates foodborne illnesses for human food, Vet-LIRN helps investigate those for animal foods. Vet-LIRN typically works with animal owners and their veterinarians to investigate cases of potential foodborne illnesses, most often in pets. If a food or treat is found to carry dangerous bacteria or contain harmful ingredients or other contaminants, Vet-LIRN may investigate further. Some investigations have explored nutritional imbalances linked to illness.

When people get sick, their health care providers may do tests and then provide information to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate the cause of the illness. Vet-LIRN acts like a CDC for animals by investigating animal illnesses. What Vet-LIRN learns through its work helps to protect the health of your animal—and perhaps your family—as well. For example, animals can contract pathogens such as Salmonella from the food they eat without getting sick; however the germs can spread to people who handle contaminated food or stool.

How Does Vet-LIRN Work?

The process starts when you or your veterinarian reports a food or drug related illness to the FDA. Simply search “Report a Problem to the FDA” to find the phone number or the website for FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal.

FDA veterinarians review each complaint and determine whether it could be related to a product that the FDA regulates, like animal food or drugs. They then decide whether the case should be referred to Vet-LIRN for follow up. If your case is referred, Vet-LIRN may contact you for more information. While each investigation is tailored to the case at hand, in general, Vet-LIRN reviews the pet’s medical records, including a history of what they ate. Vet-LIRN may ask for food samples (e.g. hay, seed, kibble, treats, etc.), so be sure to save the samples and any pertinent information about the food, such as the brand, variety, flavor and lot code after submitting your complaint.

In addition to reviewing any test results already done by your veterinarian, Vet-LIRN may ask your veterinarian to collect diagnostic samples (blood, urine, and/or tissue). In these cases:

• Vet-LIRN can cover certain testing costs when investigating the case.
• Vet-LIRN tests the sample at one of its 46 labs across the U.S. and Canada and reports the findings to the attending veterinarian to share with the owner.
• If Vet-LIRN staff determine that further FDA regulatory testing is needed, they may request that owners hold any open or unopened food product so that they can test it. In that case, a coordinator from the FDA office in your district will contact the owner directly.

Why Report an Adverse Event to Vet-LIRN?

CVM protects animal health by regulating animal drugs and animal food (including treats), and food additives. CVM is responsible for overseeing that animal food manufacturers produce food that is safe and accurately labeled, as well as produced in a sanitary manner.

Despite the Center’s regulatory measures, some animal foods do get contaminated or contain dangerous ingredients not listed on the ingredient list. To understand the important role Vet-LIRN plays in such cases, consider how Vet-LIRN investigated an animal food-related illness involving a commercial pet food that was contaminated with aflatoxin.

The case started with a veterinarian reporting to CVM about potential aflatoxicosis in six dogs, including three deaths. This report was forwarded to Vet-LIRN, who began an investigation, including collecting medical records and test results. Concurrently, Vet-LIRN was notified by a member laboratory about additional deaths in dogs that consumed the same brand of dog food manufactured at the same location. Testing from both cases found aflatoxin in high concentrations. Vet-LIRN collaborated with FDA-CVM and state regulatory partners to identify the source of the aflatoxin contamination, and a recall was quickly initiated, which likely saved the lives of many other pets.

No one wants to imagine the worst happening, but if it does and your animal dies, you may want to know the cause. By reporting your experiences with potential animal food issues and allowing Vet-LIRN to work on your case, you may learn more about what may have caused your animal's illness, including whether the food contributed. Additionally, you may help prevent other pets from getting sick.

In every case, your information adds to the FDA’s body of knowledge about animal food and how it is made and marketed. In some cases the findings may lead to inspections or recalls.

Most of Vet-LIRN’s work is with pets.

But Vet-LIRN has also investigated birds, fish, spiders, cows—any type of animal that eats any food the FDA regulates.” Whether it’s your dog or your iguana that gets sick, the FDA wants to make sure it wasn’t caused by their food. But if it was, the FDA has the information needed to take appropriate actions.