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According to FDA data, potential Salmonella contamination was the reason for 44% of all dog food recalls between 2017 and 2023 — 56 of 126 class I and II recalls over the period.
The data was shared by Jennifer Dorick, Ph.D., corporate product safety manager for Darling Ingredients, at a presentation for renderers organized by ingredient company Kemin Nurtisurance, as reported by Petfood Industry magazine.
According to the FDA, a class I recall is initiated when there’s “a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death”. A class II recall refers to when a product might “cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote”.
Read More: The Truth About Salmonella and Dog Food
Salmonella has become a key focus for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011. It now takes a zero-tolerance approach to Salmonella in pet food. Any Salmonella detected in pet food is quickly reported and dealt with as an emergency by the FDA.
This is because, although Salmonella is unlikely to be a big risk to your dog, it’s far more dangerous for humans, especially for the very young or old.
Statistics from the pig ear dog chew scandal, which involved products sold between 2015 and 2019 and resulted in the FDA advising dog parents not to give pig ear chews to their dogs, showed 154 humans were infected with Salmonella across 34 states, all linked to pig ear chew products.
Twenty percent of those infected were children. Six under-5s and six over-65s were hospitalized.
However, there is no reason to panic about Salmonella. For the facts about Salmonella in dog food, we strongly recommend you read this article: The Truth About Salmonella and Dog Food.
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