The feds are investigating a Tukwila-based Darwin's Natural Pet Products, a raw pet food company, after finding a pattern of complaints about salmonella and listeria contamination in some of its products, the Food and Drug Administration reported. (Photo: KOMO News)
TUKWILA, Wash. -- The feds are investigating a Tukwila-based raw pet food company after finding a pattern of complaints about salmonella and listeria contamination in some of its products, the Food and Drug Administration reported.
Darwin's Natural Pet Products has issued several voluntary recalls since the fall of 2016, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The most recent voluntary recall was issued on February 10.
The agency has investigated 6 complaints of illness and death in animals that have eaten the recalled products, including a kitten who died from a severe systemic salmonella infection, the FDA reported.
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The issue is of particular public health importance because salmonella can make both people and animals sick, the agency stated.
Veterinarian Meghan Harmon told KOMO News it’s rare for pets become ill from the bacteria. But you should seek help to have your pet tested if it shows signs of weakness or shock, becomes lethargic, starts to vomit, and has significant watery diarrhea that may or may not become bloody, she said.
"Getting them seen right away is going to be the most important thing," said Harmon, who works for BluePearl Veterinary Partners. "If the host already has another concurrent illness and they’re already sick… then they may become sicker and need a lot more treatment than another patient who maybe got a strain but is more of a competent host and doesn’t become as sick as a different animal."
Darwin ships its raw pet food products directly to its customers and has already reached out to those who might be affected by the voluntary recalls, a spokesman said in an email to KOMO News.
Letter sent to Darwin's entire customer base from Founder/President Gary Tashjian:
The company recently underwent a full review of its pathogen control process and, out of an abundance of caution, increased the amount of treatment it adds to all of its food to kill “bad” bacteria, the spokesman said. The company recommends owners of pets with weakened or undeveloped immune systems to cook the food lightly to help eliminate risks.
If you bought some of the recalled food, the FDA suggests pet owners throw it away.
