Microbiological quality and safety of raw pet food for canines on sale in the UK

Abstract

With raw meat-based diets increasingly popular for pets in the UK, the microbial quality and safety of raw pet food (RPF) is a growing concern. This is exemplified by epidemiological links of these products to human disease. This study assessed the microbial quality and safety of 60 RPF products from 8 different manufacturers. Only 32% of samples were deemed as “acceptable” using standard quality and safety thresholds applied to these products. Higher than acceptable contamination with Enterobacteriaceae was the most common microbiological failure. Bacillus cereus s. l., Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella enterica were isolated from 12%, 7%, and 15% of products, respectively. Clinically important S. enterica serotypes Infantis and Hadar were identified, and both B. cereus s. l. and C. perfringens isolates carry toxin markers associated with diarrheal illness. Taken together, results suggest a notable proportion of RPF products on sale in the UK did not meet acceptable microbiological criteria.