Fast Facts for Pet Owners:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning concerning certain Darwin’s Natural Pet Products. FDA testing of multiple samples of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw food for cats and dogs, manufactured by Arrow Reliance, Inc., revealed contamination with Salmonella. Furthermore, one sample was also found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono).
The recalled products are Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats and Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs, sold frozen in 2-pound packages. Specific lots of these products are affected and should not be given to pets.
Darwin’s Natural Selections pet foods are primarily sold online through a subscription service.
Despite the FDA’s recommendation for Arrow Reliance, Inc. to recall all six implicated product lots, the company has not yet initiated a recall. These products may still be in distribution. Therefore, the FDA strongly advises consumers to meticulously check Darwin’s Natural Selection Antibiotic & Grain-Free products for the specific lot numbers listed below before feeding them to their pets.
If you possess any of the pet food products listed below, it is crucial to dispose of them immediately in a secure trash container. Do not feed these products to your pets and do not donate them to shelters or other pet owners.
It is essential to thoroughly clean and disinfect all pet supplies and surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated food or your pet.
Both Salmonella and L. mono pose a health risk to both humans and animals. Individuals experiencing symptoms of Salmonella or L. mono infection should seek medical attention. If your pet exhibits symptoms of infection, consult your veterinarian promptly. Detailed symptom information is provided below.
Affected Darwin’s Pet Products – Product Information:
The recalled Darwin’s Pet Products are packaged in 2-pound white and clear plastic bags, each containing four individual units. The dog food packaging features blue labeling, while the cat food packaging has blue and green labeling. The lot codes, crucial for identification, are printed on the front of the lower left unit of each package. The specific Darwin’s Natural Selections varieties and lot codes to avoid are:
- Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
- Lot No: 10832 MFG. Date: Jul 25, 2024
- Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
- Lot No: 10856 MFG. Date: Aug 04, 2024
- Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
- Lot No: 10890 MFG. Date: Aug 13, 2024
- Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
- Lot No: 10828 MFG. Date: Jul 24, 2024
- Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
- Lot No: 10844 MFG. Date: Jul 30, 2024
- Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
- Lot No: 10887 MFG. Date: Aug 12, 2024
Immediate Actions for Pet Owners with Darwin’s Pet Products:
If you have purchased any of the Darwin’s Natural Selections pet food products listed above with the matching lot numbers, discontinue feeding it to your pets immediately. Dispose of the product in a securely sealed container, ensuring that it is inaccessible to other animals, including wildlife. Again, do not donate this recalled pet food.
The lot codes are located on the front of the lower left section of the package. If you are unsure whether you have an affected product, or if the lot code is no longer legible, it is safest to discard the food as a precaution.
Consumers who have had these Darwin’s Pet Products in their homes should take thorough steps to clean and disinfect all pet-related items and household surfaces. This includes food storage containers, food bowls, utensils, food preparation areas, pet bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or your pet may have contacted. Don’t forget to clean your refrigerator and freezer, especially if the food was stored there. Promptly clean up any pet feces in areas where people or other animals might be exposed. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the pet food or cleaning potentially contaminated items and surfaces.
Understanding Salmonella and Its Symptoms:
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause significant illness in both humans and animals. It is particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations, including the very young, elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Salmonella infection in humans typically manifests as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. While most individuals recover without specific treatment, severe cases may require hospitalization due to dehydration. In these situations, the Salmonella bacteria can spread beyond the intestines into the bloodstream and other parts of the body, requiring prompt medical intervention. If you experience symptoms of Salmonella infection, consult your healthcare provider immediately.
Pets infected with Salmonella may not always show obvious symptoms. However, common signs in pets can include vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody), fever, decreased appetite, and reduced energy levels. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, it is crucial to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. It is also important to be aware that pets can carry and shed Salmonella bacteria in their feces even when they appear healthy, posing a risk to human and animal household members.
Understanding Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) and Listeriosis Symptoms:
Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) is another bacterium that can cause serious illness, known as listeriosis, and even death in humans and animals. It is especially risky for pregnant individuals, newborns, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. The CDC reports that listeriosis symptoms in humans are varied and depend on the individual and the affected body part. Symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to common symptoms like fever and muscle aches.
Pregnant women often experience only mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can have devastating consequences, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or life-threatening infections in newborns.
Pregnant women, newborns, adults aged 65 and older, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at a significantly higher risk of developing severe listeriosis. Anyone experiencing symptoms of listeriosis should seek medical attention immediately.
L. mono infections are less common in pets than Salmonella, but they are still possible and concerning. Symptoms in pets can range from mild to severe diarrhea, anorexia, fever, neurological signs, muscle weakness, respiratory distress, pregnancy loss, depression, shock, and even death. Similar to Salmonella, pets can carry and transmit L. mono to humans through their feces and saliva, even without showing any signs of illness themselves, thus further contaminating the home environment.
FDA’s Concern Regarding Salmonella and L. mono in Pet Food:
The FDA is particularly concerned about the presence of Salmonella and L. mono in pet food, especially products like Darwin’s Pet Products raw food, due to the significant public health implications. These bacteria pose a dual threat, affecting both pet health and human health. Pets can become ill from consuming contaminated food and, critically, can also become carriers of these bacteria. Even if pets show no outward signs of illness, they can shed Salmonella and L. mono, transmitting them to their human companions and other animals in the household. The FDA has documented cases of both humans and animals becoming sick from exposure to Salmonella-contaminated pet foods. While a direct link between human L. mono infection and pet food has not been documented, the potential for transmission remains a serious concern. Once these bacteria establish themselves in a pet’s digestive system, they can be continuously shed in feces, leading to ongoing environmental contamination. Therefore, proper cleanup of pet feces, especially in shared spaces, and thorough cleaning of the home are crucial steps in preventing the spread of these pathogens.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act mandates that all animal foods, like human foods, must be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, free from harmful substances, and accurately labeled. It is important to note that refrigeration or freezing does not eliminate Salmonella or L. mono bacteria.
Reporting Pet Illnesses Potentially Linked to Darwin’s Pet Products:
If you believe your pet has become ill after consuming Darwin’s Pet Products or any potentially contaminated pet food, your first step should be to contact your veterinarian. Veterinarians who wish to test pets for Salmonella and L. mono, especially in cases where a human in the household is also infected, can utilize the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN Network).
The FDA also encourages consumers to directly report any complaints related to pet food products electronically through the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal. For assistance with submitting a report online, consumers can also visit the SmartHub – Safety Intake Portal – Report a Product Problem.
For Further Information:
For more information about this recall and pet food safety, please refer to the FDA website and resources from the CDC on Salmonella and Listeria.
