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Darwin’s In Trouble Again; More Raw Dog Food Found Contaminated With Pathogenic Bacteria

In the latest chapter in never ending saga that is Darwin’s, today the FDA announced that more of Darwin’s raw pet food has been found – again – to be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria.

This time the FDA found that more of Darwin’s products tested positive for Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The FDA has taken the unusual step of notifying consumers about Darwin’s trial and tribulations, warning that this issue is of particular public health importance because Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can make both people and animals sick, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O128 can cause serious illness in humans.

In its most recent recall, Darwin’s Natural is recalling its raw ZooLogics Chicken with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #43887 and 44037), its raw ZooLogics Turkey with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #44127), and its raw ZooLogics Duck with Organic Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot # 44147) after FDA tests found the products were contaminated. The FDA states that the products have the potential to cause illness and death in humans and animals, so precautions should be taken.

DARWIN’S HISTORY OF RECALLS AND SICK PETS

Although there are no reports of illnesses currently identified in connection with this recall, the FDA has investigated six complaints of illness and death in animals that have eaten previously recalled Darwin’s Natural Selections and Darwin’s ZooLogics products.

Over the last two years Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, manufactured by Arrow Reliance, have had multiple problems including numerous recalls. In each instance, the company recalled these products after being alerted to “positive findings of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O128, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in samples of their raw pet food products,” according to the FDA.

LONG LIST OF DARWIN’S RECALLS

Since 2016, Arrow Reliance/Darwin’s Natural has recalled the following raw pet food products:

WHY YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT DARWIN’S

These recalls are of particular concern because they have the potential to make you and your pets sick. The FDA is warning consumers about the contaminated pet food because it is of “particular public health importance because of the potential hazard to both human and animal health.”

Unfortunately, Darwin’s has never taken steps to notify the public about this ar any other recall, but they have notified its customers directly of the recalls. The company has never posted a notice on their website notifying the public about this ao any recall they have had in the past.

Consumers are being advised not feed their pets recalled lots of raw pet food, and they should throw it away. People who think they might have become ill or their pets may be ill from exposure to contaminated raw pet food should talk to their healthcare providers or veterinarians.

HANDY HOUSEKEEPING HINTS

Consumers should take precautions when handling any pet food but in particular raw pet food. When you bring raw meat into your home, you should follow basic food safety handling procedures, but people who have had the contaminated pet food in their home should take extra steps.

The FDA advises consumers to do some basic housekeeping, like “clean your refrigerator and clean and disinfect all bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with.” And you probably already know this, but animals can shed the bacteria when they go poo, so important to clean up their poop after they go potty.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET SICK

People who think they might have become ill due to exposure to contaminated raw pet food or the feces of pets that have eaten contaminated raw pet food should talk to their healthcare providers. Contact your healthcare provider if you have diarrhea that lasts for more than three days, or is accompanied by high fever, blood in the stool, or so much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down, and you pass very little urine.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET IS SICK

People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated raw pet food should contact their veterinarians. Veterinarians who wish to have dogs tested for Salmonella may do so through the Vet-LIRN Network if the pet is from a household with a person infected with Salmonella.

The FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about this and other pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

HOW TO CONTACT DARWIN’S

Phone Number: 877-738-6325 or 206-324-7387 Mon-Fri from 6:00 am – 6:00 pm PT, Sat 6:00 am – 3:00 pm PT. Email Address: info@darwinspet.com or contact them online using their form.

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Mollie Morrissette, the author of Poisoned Pets, is an animal food safety expert and consumer advisor. Help support her work by making a donation today.

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