Investigation of Listeria, Salmonella, and toxigenic Escherichia coli in various pet foods.
The Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), in collaboration with the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) and its Microbiology Cooperative Agreement Program (MCAP) laboratories, conducted a study to evaluate the prevalence of selected microbial organisms in various types of pet foods. The goal of this blinded study was to help the Center for Veterinary Medicine prioritize potential future pet food-testing efforts. The study also increased the FERN laboratories' screening capabilities for foodborne pathogens in animal feed matrices, since such pathogens may also be a significant health risk to consumers who come into contact with pet foods. Six U.S. Food and Drug Administration FERN MCAP laboratories analyzed approximately 1056 samples over 2 years. Laboratories tested for Salmonella, Listeria, Escherichia coli O157:H7 enterohemorrhagic E. coli, and Shiga toxin-producing strains of E. coli (STEC). Dry and semimoist dog and cat foods purchased from local stores were tested during Phase 1. Raw dog and cat foods, exotic animal feed, and jerky-type treats purchased through the Internet were tested in Phase 2. Of the 480 dry and semimoist samples, only 2 tested positive: 1 for Salmonella and 1 for Listeria greyii. However, of the 576 samples analyzed during Phase 2, 66 samples were positive for Listeria (32 of those were Listeria monocytogenes) and 15 samples positive for Salmonella. These pathogens were isolated from raw foods and jerky-type treats, not the exotic animal dry feeds. This study showed that raw pet foods may harbor food safety pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. Consumers should handle these products carefully, being mindful of the potential risks to human and animal health.
1 U.S. Food and Drug Administration , Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Research, Laurel, Maryland.
Sarah M
SM
Nemser
Tara
T
Doran
Michael
M
Grabenstein
Terri
T
McConnell
Timothy
T
McGrath
Ruiqing
R
Pamboukian
Angele C
AC
Smith
Maya
M
Achen
Gregory
G
Danzeisen
Sun
S
Kim
Yong
Y
Liu
Sharon
S
Robeson
Grisel
G
Rosario
Karen
K
McWilliams Wilson
Renate
R
Reimschuessel
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D054324:Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008087:Listeria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D057805:Pets; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014481:United States