Colorado State University Extension
SafeFood Rapid Response Network

Go to Table of Contents for this issue

SAFE HANDLING OF PET TREATS

Edited by: Stephanie Wallner, M.S., Mary Schroeder, M.S., R.D, Pat Kendall, Ph.D., R.D., Colorado State - Fall 2006

For most people, food safety concerns stem from the foods they eat or feed their families. However, the foods and treats people give to family pets may also be contaminated with pathogens that can cause human illness. In fact, in response to several recent cases of foodborne illness in humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report about the possible dangers of handling pet foods that may be contaminated with harmful bacteria.

The CDC report detailed nine confirmed cases of Salmonella Thompson infection linked to pet treats made with raw dehydrated beef and seafood ingredients. Salmonella Thompson is a strain of Salmonella bacteria that can cause symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting in humans and may cause serious illnesses in immune-compromised individuals. Salmonella infections are usually caused by handling or consuming contaminated foods, especially those of animal origin, or through contact with farm animals, reptiles, and pets. In this report, Salmonella Thompson was identified in beef and seafood-derived pet treats from manufacturers in Washington state and British Columbia, Canada; nine pet owners who handled these treats became ill. All of the infected patients had symptoms of diarrhea, one experienced vomiting, and one was hospitalized for a more serious infection. The outbreak may have included many more infections, according to the CDC, because this type of illness often is not reported to public health authorities.

The two companies that produced and distributed the treats in the Salmonella Thompson outbreak both reportedly used dehydration processes to kill bacteria on the finished products, but their dehydration temperatures were likely not high enough. The CDC now recommends that pet food producers use heat treatments or irradiation as a final step in processing to successfully destroy potentially harmful bacteria in their products. In addition, it is recommended that manufacturers package their products promptly after treatment as an extra precaution to keep them safe. In conjunction with the FDA, with the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association has created voluntary guidelines for pet food production and handling designed to reduce bacterial contamination on finished products.

Pet treats are regulated in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Salmonella-contaminated pet treats are considered adulterated. In 2004, the FDA initiated annual nationwide testing of pet treats for salmonellae. Because the prevalence of Salmonella organisms in pet treats in the U.S. has not decreased since the testing program was begun, the FDA recently announced plans to broaden its use of enforcement actions to ensure the safety of pet foods and treats.

The CDC provides this advice to help reduce the risk for transmission of Salmonella organisms from pet treats to humans:

• Always thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after handling pet foods containing animal ingredients, such as beef and seafood.
• If you are at increased risk of infection or serious illness from salmonellosis (e.g., child <5 years, older adult, immunocompromised person) avoid contact with animal derived pet treats.
• Pet store owners, health-care providers veterinarians, and pet food manufacturers should provide information to pet owners about the potential health risks associated with animal-derived pet treats
• Pet treat manufacturers should implement a heat treatment or irradiation step that destroys Salmonella and other bacteria during the processing of pet treats and should provide labels containing product information.

Sources: Human salmonellosis associated with animal-derived pet treats - United States and Canada, 2005. MMWR, June 30, 2006; 55:702-705.

For more information:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website. Available at http://www.cdc.gov.
2. Food and Drug Administration Website. Available at http://www.fda.gov.
3. American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Website. Available at http://www.appma.org.

Disclaimer: The information available through this Web site is provided as a public service and for educational purposes only. All efforts have been made to ensure the material on this information system is accurate and up to date. However, Colorado State University Extension and SafeFood cannot be held responsible for any circumstances resulting from its use, unavailability, or possible inaccuracy. Also, reference in this Web to any specific commercial products, process, service, manufacturer, or company does not constitute its endorsement or recommendation.