Raw pet food safety investigation published

Raw diets for dogs and cats have been growing in popularity in the UK over the past decade. Many pet owners choose raw feeding because they believe it is a more ‘natural’ way of feeding their pet or closer to what animals would eat in the wild. But a new survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) highlights an important issue: raw pet foods can contain bacteria that pose risks to both pets and people.

The study examined raw dog and cat food sold in the UK, looking specifically for disease-causing bacteria and bacteria showing resistance to antibiotics (antimicrobial resistance – AMR). While the results don’t necessarily mean raw feeding should be avoided entirely, they do show why careful handling and more informed decision-making about pet foods are essential.

Let’s break down what the research found and what this means for pet owners.

Raw food for pets

Raw food diets have become increasingly popular over recent years. These diets contain meat and other ingredients such as bones, organs, vegetable and sometimes supplements which are not cooked. Because it is not cooked, the food doesn’t go through a heat treatment that would normally kill lots of harmful microbes. This means that bacteria present in the meat or introduced during processing may still be alive in the finished product. This then creates a potential route for exposure to bacteria that can cause illness in both animals and humans.

This can happen in a few different ways:

Humans handling raw pet food (RPF) in the kitchen

Cross-contamination to surfaces or food for human consumption

Pets shedding bacteria after eating contaminated food

Another growing concern is antimicrobial resistance

This is where bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, meaning infections are harder to treat. AMR is a major global health issue affecting both human and veterinary medicine.

You might struggle to find a vet that actually recommends feeding your pet raw food for these reasons. There is not currently much supporting research for raw pet food and given the potential risks to human and animal health, it is not a popular choice among veterinary professionals.

The FSA survey was designed to better understand how often harmful bacteria and antibiotic-resistant strains occur in raw pet food in the UK.

How the study was conducted

Researchers tested a total of 380 RPF samples between March 2023 and February 2024. These included 277 raw dog food samples and 103 raw cat food samples. The products came from 50 different brands and were purchased online and in retail stores across England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland was not included although some products tested in the survey may have been produced there). As well as frozen formats being the predominant form in which RPF is sold and consumed in the UK, chilled variants were largely unavailable on the UK market, so only frozen products were sampled.

Each sample was tested for several bacteria known to cause disease, including:

Salmonella

Campylobacter

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Researchers also checked whether these bacteria carried genes that make them resistant to antibiotics.

Key findings from the study:

Pathogenic bacteria were common

Pathogenic bacteria are essentially any bacteria that can cause disease and harm to their hosts. One of the most significant results was how frequently disease-causing bacteria were detected. Overall, 35% of the raw pet food samples contained at least one type of pathogen.

Heard some of these names before? That’s because these bacteria are well-known causes of foodborne illnesses in people and animals. In humans, infections can lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever.

Almost 1/3 of tested products did not meet UK food safety standards

Another concerning finding was that around 29% of samples failed to comply with current UK regulations for pet food products, either because Salmonella was present or because the level of E. coli exceeded the allowed limits.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were detected

The results also found that around 20% the RPF samples contained E. coli resistant one or more antibiotics.

Even more worryingly, bacteria were detected that showed resistance to certain ‘last resort’ antibiotics used in human medicine; colistin-resistant E. coli detected in 1% of samples. Reassuringly, resistance to carbapenem antibiotics was not detected.

MRSA was found in some samples

MRSA is a strain of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to several antibiotics. It is another huge concern in both veterinary and human medicine and can cause infections that spread between species and are especially difficult to treat.

This survey detected MRSA in just under 10% of samples, which despite its seemingly small number, is still hugely troubling.

Packaging leaked during thawing

About 8% of the RPF products leaked through their packaging during the thawing process, which could increase the risk of bacteria spreading to kitchen surfaces or other foods. Fortunately, it was found that contamination of the external packaging was relatively rare, occurring in around 1% of packs.

What this means for pet health

It is important to note that the presence of bacteria in any pet food does not automatically mean that a pet will become ill if they eat it. Dogs and cats often tolerate bacteria that would make humans sick. However, infections can still occur, particularly in puppies and kittens or pets with weakened immune systems.

Additionally, even healthy pets can carry bacteria in their digestive tract and shed them in faeces, potentially exposing humans and other animals in the household.

Risks for people in the household

The biggest concern highlighted by the study is human exposure. The results of this study truly emphasise the link between animal and human health in everyday life. Feeding raw pet food can introduce bacteria into the home in several possible ways:

Handling the food during preparation

Cleaning food bowls

Contaminating surfaces

Exposure to bacteria shed by pets

For most healthy adults, infections are usually mild. However, certain groups of people are more vulnerable including young children, those who are pregnant or elderly and anyone with a weakened immune system.

Because of this, public health authorities recommend exercising extra caution when feeding raw diets in households with vulnerable individuals.

Despite this, on 41% of the RPF samples there were no instructions to wash hands and clean utensils/surfaces after handling. This suggests that we still have a way to go in better advising owners who feed raw pet food on proper handling.

The bigger picture of raw feeding

Raw feeding remains a controversial topic in veterinary nutrition amongst professionals.

Many owners report benefits such as improved coat condition, cleaner teeth and better-quality stools. However, scientific evidence supporting health benefits of raw food is still limited.

The new FSA study adds to a growing body of research demonstrating that raw pet food frequently contains bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains.

Importantly, the study also highlights that the level of contamination appears to be higher than that typically found in meat intended for human consumption in the UK, though comparisons should be interpreted cautiously because the products are different.

Conclusions

Raw pet food will undoubtedly remain a popular choice among some pet owners, but this survey provides a stark reminder that it can carry real microbiological risks that can potentially impact human health. The results are significant and highlight the importance of fully understanding the risks as well as practicing strict hygiene when handling raw pet food.

If you’re a pet owner considering feeding a raw diet, discuss your options with your vet. It’s vital to make sure any diet is nutritionally balanced and appropriate for your pets life stage, helping them to live the healthiest life possible.