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Pathogen contamination of raw pet diets isn’t surprising. We know it’s a risk. So a new issue with Darwin’s Natural Pet Products isn’t really surprising either, since they’ve had multiple issues in the past, including ignoring an FDA recall request. They’re back in the news again, but this time it’s because of human illness (with a side of another ignored request). Maybe serious illness in a person will prompt more action, but I don’t see anything about this situation or a recall on their website, so that’s not encouraging.

The latest FDA advisory follows detection of E. coli O157 from a beef-based raw dog food and Salmonella from one duck-based and one chicken-based dog food marketed by Darwin’s. But the really concerning part of the story is how the problem was identified:

  • In August 2024, a four-year-old child was hospitalized with hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a severe and life-threatening consequence of E. coli O157 infection.
  • The investigation led to testing of raw pet food samples from the child’s household, and the E. coli O157 from the pet food was a genetic match to the one from the child.
  • A dog in the household had been sick the day before the child fell ill. The dog’s disease was minor and so it wasn’t taken to a veterinarian. It could have been related to E. coli or Salmonella from the diet, or it may have been unrelated. A link to the diet makes sense though, particularly since the child had direct contact with the dog but not the dog food. There are lots of ways for contaminants from the raw pet to make it into the child, such as cross-contamination in the kitchen, or contact with used food bowls, but the dog is a logical high-risk source.

The time frame is a bit unusual though. The child got since in August 2024, but the pet food wasn’t tested until May/June 2025. The reason for that is not explained, but maybe the family found the old pet food in the freezer and decided to see if it was a potential source, or didn’t think about the pet food until later, and then were able to find some left in the freezer. It seems like the parents directed the testing through a private (but accredited) lab, with info then being reported to the FDA. However, with the genetic match between the bacterium in the diet and the child, and the time frame of when that food would have been purchased (and fed at least in part to the dog) and the child’s illness, it’s a pretty solid story.

Another concerning aspect of this case is detailed in the FDA notice:

The FDA recommended that Arrow Reliance, Inc [the company that manufactured the diet for Darwins] recall the product lots that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. To date, the firm has not recalled the affected products. These products, which were manufactured in May or June 2024, were sold frozen, have no expiration date on the label, and could still be in consumers’ freezers. Therefore, the FDA advises consumers to check their freezers for the affected lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products prior to feeding to pets.

How companies can get away with ignoring an FDA request to recall a product that has likely infected someone and caused severe illness is beyond me.

The FDA’s recommendations to consumers are straightforward and are copied below:

  • If consumers have any pet food on the list below, they are advised to throw it away in a secure container. Do not feed it to pets. Do not donate the food.
  • Clean and disinfect all pet supplies and surfaces that the food or pet had contact with.
  • E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella can affect both people and animals. People with symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella infection should consult their health care providers. Consult a veterinarian if your pet has symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella  infection. See information about human and animal symptoms below.

Here is the product information on the affected lots, also from the FDA notice:

The affected lots of pet food were sold in frozen 2-pound white and clear plastic packages with four separate units. The beef and chicken BioLogics dog food have orange labeling, and the duck Natural Selections dog food has blue labeling. Product lot codes are printed on the front of the lower left unit of the package. The affected varieties and lot codes are:

  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, BioLogics All-Natural and Grain Free, Beef Recipe for Dogs
    • Lot 10662, MFG Date: May 30, 2024
  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, BioLogics All-Natural and Grain Free, Chicken Recipe for Dogs
    • Lot 10683, MFG date: June 05, 2024
  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, Natural Selections Duck Recipe for Dogs
    • Lot 10638, MFG date: May 22, 2024