FSA assesses the risk of raw pet food to animals and humans

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has analyzed the risk to dogs and cats from eating contaminated raw pet food, and the impact on the people who feed them such products.

Raw pet food has become increasingly popular in recent years. Such articles are made from category 3 animal by-products (ABP) that have been found suitable for human consumption in a slaughterhouse, but do not meet the requirements. They do not undergo any cooking or heat treatment that could contaminate the end product with pathogens. The majority are sold frozen and usually have a shelf life of more than a year.

The assessment takes into account the risk of dogs and cats becoming infected with Salmonella, beta-glucuronidase-positive E. coli, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Campylobacter and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from contaminated products. It also covers the risk of infection to pet owners from handling these products at home or through transmission from an infected pet.

There is uncertainty regarding the prevalence and symptoms of clinical infection in companion animals and the manner in which raw pet food products are handled, stored, and prepared at home. The number of pet owners in vulnerable categories who use raw pet food is also unclear.

A recent study by the FSA into retail testing of raw dog and cat food products in Britain between March 2023 and February 2024 found a high prevalence of these pathogens. The full findings have yet to be published, but results from 306 of 380 samples show that 20 percent were positive for Salmonella, 11 percent for Campylobacter, 9 percent for MRSA and 11 percent for STEC.

This research also showed that packaging recommendations varied widely between manufacturers. Some product labels include instructions such as washing hands after handling and storing away from human food. However, other labels had no usage instructions.

Risk from pathogen
The FSA guidelines for raw pet foods include hygiene practices such as washing hands after handling, storing products away from human food, and cleaning all surfaces that come into contact with the product. Poor handling and hygiene practices can lead to cross-contamination and possible human infection.

In August 2017, four people were infected with genetically related strains of STEC O157:H7. One person died after developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Interviews with cases revealed that three of them had been exposed to dogs fed a raw meat-based diet, specifically tripe. In two cases the tripe was purchased from the same supplier.

The risk to dogs and cats from consuming Salmonella-contaminated raw pet food is medium, meaning it occurs regularly, with a medium degree of uncertainty.

The risk to these animals from consuming Campylobacter-contaminated raw pet food is considered low, meaning it is rare but does occur. For STEC, the risk was considered low for dogs and very low for cats.

The risk to pet owners of Salmonella, Campylobacter and STEC infections from handling contaminated products in the home is considered low. The likelihood of human exposure would depend on hygiene practices in handling feed and disposing of feces.

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