On September 20th, 2024, the FDA issued an advisory about Darwin's Natural Selections Pet Food. Some samples of the food tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes, so the FDA recommends that Darwin's issues a voluntary recall of the affected products. At the time of writing this article, Darwin's hasn't recalled the food.
What Products Were Affected?
According to the FDA, the following product lots were affected and should be recalled:
Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
Lot No: 10832 MFG. Date: Jul 25, 2024
Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
Lot No: 10856 MFG. Date: Aug 04, 2024
Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
Lot No: 10890 MFG. Date: Aug 13, 2024
Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
Lot No: 10828 MFG. Date: Jul 24, 2024
Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
Lot No: 10844 MFG. Date: Jul 30, 2024
Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
Lot No: 10887 MFG. Date: Aug 12, 2024
The above products come in 2-pound packages with a white and transparent appearance. Each product comes with a set of four individuals units. Dog food has blue labels while cat food has blue and green labels. You can find the lot codes on the front of the lower left unit of each product set.
Risks of Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes for Pets
Both Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious issues for dogs and cats. Pets could experience vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Pets can also carry the bacteria without showing symptoms while still being able to pass it onto humans. Humans with Salmonella could experience diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
Pets are unlikely to experience Listeria monocytogenes infections, but if they do, symptoms could include diarrhea, fever, anorexia, nervous system issues, and respiratory problems. Pets can pass the bacteria to humans without showing symptoms. Humans could experience extreme illness and even death in some cases.
So, even though pets typically have minor symptoms when exposed to Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, it's better to be safe than sorry. Your pet could get ill, and even if they don't, they could pass it to humans and other pets.
What to Do with the Affected Products
If you have an affected product or can't read the lot code on yours, it's best to stop feeding it to your pet and dispose of it in a way that no humans or animals can reach it. Thoroughly wash anything the food came into contact with, including bowls, counters, and containers. Wash your hands after.
Darwin's hasn't recalled the product yet, so they may not offer a recall at this time. You can try contacting them for more information. If you want to report a pet illness related to this advisory, you can visit the Safety Reporting Portal or the FDA's SmartHub.
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