A 2026 nationwide Food Standards Agency (FSA) survey revealed that 35% of raw dog and cat food products on retail sale in the UK contained harmful and pathogenic bacteria.
▪️KEY FINDINGS:
➡️ Pathogen Prevalence: Testing of 380 samples (277 raw dog food and 103 raw cat food products) across 50 brands between March 2023 and February 2024 identified Salmonella in 21% of samples, Campylobacter in 14%, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in 12%.➡️ Legal Compliance Failures: “29% failed to meet UK legal safety standards.”➡️ Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Some detected bacteria exhibited resistance to critical antibiotics, including colistin-resistant E. coli found in 1% of samples alongside penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant strains.➡️ The Food Standards Agency (FSA) emphasizes that handling raw pet food carries potential cross-contamination risks for humans, especially vulnerable groups like the elderly or immunocompromised. Pet owners are advised to maintain strict hygiene standards— including thoroughly washing hands, disinfecting utensils, and properly storing and defrosting products away from human food.
▪️FULL REPORT >> https://science.food.gov.uk/article/155340-a-survey-of-microbiological-and-antimicrobial-resistance-amr-contamination-found-in-raw-dog-and-cat-food-on-retail-sale-in-the-uk
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