Petfood
Micreos offers innovative pet food application solutions for all Pet Food producers. Ensuring the safety of companion animals using novel, organic Phage technology.
Feeding raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) to companion animals has become increasingly popular. Since these diets may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites, they may pose a risk to both animal and human health. While the parasites are rendered harmless by freezing, bacteria are not, and that both poses a risk– not only to the pet but owners as well, either directly, as a result of cross-contamination of human food, or through exposure to pathogens shed by the animals (1).
OTHER APPLICATIONS
PET FOOD – PHAGE & REGULATORY
PhageGuard S and PhageGuard Listex have shown both in lab trials and in practice to reduce Salmonella and Listeria with 1-2 logs on poultry, pork, beef and fish (a/o salmon, tuna).
PhageGuard S and PhageGuard Listex are FDA GRAS processing aids end therefore no Food Additive Petition for Animal Food is required.
FDA Zero-Tolerance policy
Shortly after passage of FSMA, FDA declared a zero-tolerance policy for Salmonella in all pet foods, citing mainly the risk to human health, especially for immune-compromised people who might handle contaminated pet food. And indeed, some Salmonella outbreaks in humans from handling pet food have occurred, including rather significant ones in 2008 and 2012 (both dry pet food).
In November 2013, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) released results of a two-year study on the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in several categories of pet food products, showing a higher incidence of both pathogens in raw pet foods. According to FDA, there was only one other instance of Salmonella present, in a dry cat food; no other products outside of the raw category had either pathogen. (Independent researchers have also found a higher incidence of pathogens in raw pet foods. Of the 196 raw pet food samples analyzed, 15 were positive for Salmonella and 32 were positive for L. monocytogenes (see the Table below “Number and type of pet food samples that tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes (Years 1 & 2)”).
FSMA
As FSMA continues to roll out, states are being urged by FDA to up their enforcement efforts and there are more frequent inspections of brands in the raw diet category. This is confirmed in practice as shown by recent recalls. Over the 10 months from June 2017 through April 2018 there were 23 recalls from 18 different brands with in 13 cases Salmonella, 5 cases Listeria, 4 cases with both Salmonella and Listeria and 1 recall for E-coli O128. 5 brand even had 2 recalls over this period.
US Food and Drug Administration, Animal & Veterinary, Recalls & Withdrawals
Number and type of pet food samples that tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes (Years 1 & 2)
| Type of Pet food Sample | No. samples tested | No. positive for Salmonella | No.positive for L. monocytogenes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw pet food | 196 | 15 | 32 |
| Dry exotic pet food* | 190 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerky-type treats† | 190 | 0 | 0 |
| Semi-moist dog food‡ | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Semi-moist cat food‡ | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry dog food§ | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry cat food§ | 120 | 1 | 0 |
* Non-cat and non-dog food, such as dry pellets for hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, amphibians, and birds.
† Included chicken jerky product, pig ears, and bully stick-type products.
‡ Typically packaged in pouches for retail sale, such as (1) pouched dog and cat food; and
(2) food treats shaped like bacon, fish, pork chops, and burgers.
§ Included pellet- or kibble-type food typically packaged in bags for retail sale.
Note: Canned pet food samples were not tested in this study.
