CDC Does Not Recommend Raw Pet Food: Salmonella and Listeria Can Sicken Pets and Families
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend feeding raw pet food or raw treats to dogs and cats, the agency says in its pet food safety guidance, because uncooked animal protein can carry germs such as Salmonella and Listeria that sicken pets and can spread around the kitchen and home to make people sick as well.
Raw pet foods contain animal protein that has not been heated to a high enough temperature to kill germs, CDC explains. Common ingredients include uncooked muscle meat, organ meat and bones, uncooked eggs and unpasteurized milk. The products come in many forms, including raw, raw frozen, freeze-dried and dehydrated, and even treats and food toppers such as rawhide chews and freeze-dried treats can be raw. Freezing, freeze-drying or dehydrating only reduces the number of germs; it does not kill all of them.
Safer options are foods that have been cooked or heated, including kibble, canned foods and cooked fresh foods. When buying a main diet, CDC advises looking for the words "complete and balanced" on the label, and talking to a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist before making homemade food a pet's main diet.
Hygiene matters as well: wash hands with soap and water before and after handling pet food or treats, clean bowls, scoops and feeding mats frequently, follow storage instructions on labels, and never feed recalled or contaminated food. If a pet becomes sick after eating a specific food, owners can report a complaint to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
CDC notes that children under 5, adults 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women are more likely to become seriously ill from foodborne germs, and households with those members should talk to a veterinarian before considering a raw diet. Raw is not necessarily healthier, the agency adds: both raw and cooked foods can be nutritionally balanced or inadequate, depending on their ingredients. (Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：一只拉布拉多犬在吃干粮。美国疾病控制与预防中心图片。 / Photo: A Labrador eats kibble from a bowl. Image from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
