The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning concerning certain lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food. FDA sampling revealed the presence of Salmonella in five samples and both Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) in a sixth sample. These products are manufactured by Arrow Reliance, Inc.
Urgent Alert: Check Your Darwin’s Natural Pet Food
It is crucial for pet owners, particularly those using Darwin’s Natural Pet Food, to be aware of this potential health risk. The affected 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 in frozen 2-pound packages. Specific lot numbers are implicated and should not be fed to pets.
Darwin’s Natural Selections pet foods are primarily distributed online through a subscription service, making it essential to spread awareness widely among online pet food consumers.
Despite the FDA’s recommendation, Arrow Reliance, Inc. has not yet initiated a recall of these six specific lots. This lack of action from the company means consumers must be extra vigilant. The FDA strongly advises pet owners to meticulously check any Darwin’s Natural Selection Antibiotic & Grain-Free products they possess against the affected lot numbers before feeding them to their pets.
If you find you have any of the pet food listed below, the FDA’s guidance is clear: dispose of it immediately in a secure container, preventing access by pets or wildlife. Do not donate this food under any circumstances.
Furthermore, thorough cleaning and disinfection of all pet supplies and any surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated food or your pet is paramount. This measure is vital to prevent the spread of bacteria to both humans and other animals in the household.
Both Salmonella and L. mono pose risks to human and animal health. If you or a family member experience symptoms of Salmonella or L. mono infection, seek medical advice promptly. Similarly, if your pet exhibits symptoms, immediate veterinary consultation is necessary. Detailed symptom information is provided below to help you identify potential infections.
Darwin’s Natural Pet Food Products Under FDA Warning
The following Darwin’s Natural Pet Food products are subject to this FDA warning. They are packaged in 2-pound white and clear plastic containers, divided into four units. Dog food packaging features blue labeling, while cat food uses blue and green labels. The critical lot codes are located on the front of the lower left unit of each package.
Here is a detailed list of the affected Darwin’s Natural Pet Food varieties and their corresponding lot codes:
- Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
- Lot No: 10832 MFG. Date: Jul 25, 2024
- Lot No: 10856 MFG. Date: Aug 04, 2024
- 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
- Lot No: 10844 MFG. Date: Jul 30, 2024
- Lot No: 10887 MFG. Date: Aug 12, 2024
[insert Darwin Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats – Lot 10832 label image here]
Image: Product label for Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 10832, clearly showing the lot number and product description.
[insert Darwin Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats – Lot-10856 label image here]
Image: Close-up of the product label for Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 10856, highlighting the lot code and branding.
[insert Darwin Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats – Lot-10890 label image here]
Image: Detailed product label of Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 10890, emphasizing the product name and manufacturing date.
[insert Darwin Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Dogs – Lot-10828 label image here]
Image: Label of Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Dogs, Lot 10828, with a clear view of the product information and lot identification.
[insert Darwin Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Dogs – Lot-10844 label image here]
Image: Product label for Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Dogs, Lot 10844, showing the packaging design and essential lot details.
[insert Darwin Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Dogs – Lot-10887 label image here]
Image: Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Dogs, Lot 10887 label, focusing on the product branding and the location of the lot number.
Immediate Actions for Pet Owners with Darwin’s Natural Pet Food
If you possess any Darwin’s Natural Selections pet food matching the product names and lot codes listed, it is critical to immediately stop feeding it to your pets. Dispose of the food in a secure, tightly sealed container to prevent any access by animals, including wildlife. Do not donate the food to shelters or other pet owners, as this could extend the risk of contamination.
The lot code is printed on the front of the lower left unit of the food package. If you are unsure whether your product is affected, or if the lot code is no longer legible, it is safest to discard the food as a precaution.
For households that have had these Darwin’s Natural Pet Food products, thorough cleaning and disinfection are essential. Follow these steps to minimize the risk of bacterial spread:
- Clean and disinfect all pet supplies: This includes food storage containers, food and water bowls, utensils, and food preparation surfaces.
- Disinfect pet areas: Clean pet bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any other surfaces your pet or the food may have contacted.
- Refrigerator and freezer cleaning: Pay special attention to cleaning your refrigerator and freezer, especially if the raw food was stored there. The CDC provides guidelines on how to clean your refrigerator effectively.
- Clean up pet feces: Promptly and thoroughly clean up pet feces in areas where people or other animals might be exposed.
- Hand hygiene: Wash your hands meticulously with soap and water after handling the pet food, cleaning up potentially contaminated items, or after contact with pet feces.
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, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Salmonella infection in humans typically manifests with symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. While most individuals recover without specific treatment, severe cases can require hospitalization, especially if the infection spreads beyond the intestines into the bloodstream and other parts of the body. If you experience these symptoms, it is vital to consult your healthcare provider.
In pets, Salmonella infections may not always present obvious symptoms. However, signs to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite, and decreased activity levels. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, seek veterinary attention immediately. It’s also important to remember that pets can carry and shed Salmonella bacteria in their feces even when they appear healthy, posing a risk of transmission to humans and other animals.
Understanding Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) and Listeriosis Symptoms
Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) is another bacterium of concern, capable of causing serious illness known as listeriosis in humans and animals. Similar to Salmonella, L. mono poses a greater threat to pregnant individuals, newborns, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. The CDC notes that listeriosis symptoms in humans are varied and depend on the individual and the affected body area. 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 milder, flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can have severe consequences, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or life-threatening infections in newborns. Individuals in high-risk groups (pregnant women and their newborns, adults 65+, and immunocompromised individuals) are particularly susceptible to severe listeriosis. Anyone experiencing listeriosis symptoms should seek medical attention without delay.
L. mono infections are less common in pets but are still possible. 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 infected with L. mono can shed the bacteria in their feces and saliva even without showing any signs of illness, contributing to environmental contamination and potential human exposure.
FDA Concerns Regarding Salmonella and L. mono in Pet Food
The FDA’s concern over Salmonella and L. mono contamination in pet food, particularly in products like Darwin’s Natural Pet Food, stems from the significant public health implications. These bacteria can affect both pet and human health. Pets can become ill from contaminated food and, critically, can also act as carriers, spreading bacteria to humans even when asymptomatic. The FDA has documented cases of human and animal illness linked to Salmonella-contaminated pet foods, highlighting the real-world risks (Salmonella-human cases, Salmonella-kitten, Salmonella-kitten, dog). Although human L. mono infection from pet food is not yet documented, the potential for transmission is present. Once these bacteria colonize a pet’s gastrointestinal tract, they can be shed in feces and continuously spread contamination within the household environment and public spaces.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act mandates that pet food, just like human food, must be safe, produced under sanitary conditions, free from harmful substances, and truthfully labeled. It’s important to note that neither refrigeration nor freezing eliminates Salmonella or L. mono, underscoring the need for stringent safety measures in pet food production and handling.
Reporting Pet Illnesses Potentially Related to Darwin’s Natural Pet Food
If you believe your pet has become ill after consuming Darwin’s Natural Pet Food, the first step is to consult your veterinarian immediately. Veterinarians who suspect Salmonella or L. mono infection in pets, particularly in households with human cases of these infections, can utilize the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN Network) for testing.
The FDA also encourages consumers to directly report any complaints regarding pet food products, including Darwin’s Natural Pet Food, electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal. For assistance with submitting a report online, consumers can visit the SmartHub – Safety Intake Portal – Report a Product Problem (fda.gov).
By staying informed and taking proactive measures, pet owners can protect themselves and their beloved animals from the risks associated with contaminated pet food.
