Zoonotic bacteria and parasites found in raw meat‐based diets for cats and dogs
Open accessAbstract
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. The purpose of this study was to test for the presence of zoonotic bacterial and parasitic pathogens in Dutch commercial RMBDs. We analysed 35 commercial frozen RMBDs from eight different brands. Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 was isolated from eight products (23 per cent) and extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases‐producing E coli was found in 28 products (80 per cent). Listeria monocytogenes was present in 19 products (54 per cent), other Listeria species in 15 products (43 per cent) and Salmonella species in seven products (20 per cent). Concerning parasites, four products (11 per cent) contained Sarcocystis cruzi and another four (11 per cent) S tenella . In two products (6 per cent) Toxoplasma gondii was found. The results of this study demonstrate the presence of potential zoonotic pathogens in frozen RMBDs that may be a possible source of bacterial infections in pet animals and if transmitted pose a risk for human beings. If non‐frozen meat is fed, parasitic infections are also possible. Pet owners should therefore be informed about the risks associated with feeding their animals RMBDs.
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Raw pet food commonly exceeds hygiene thresholds for counts of Enterobacteriaceae.
“Raw pet food commonly exceeds hygiene thresholds for counts of Enterobacteriaceae.”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
The Discussion (page not provided) reports that 14 of 35 tested raw meat-based diets failed E. coli hygiene criteria for human consumption. The paper did not report counts for Enterobacteriaceae as a group or establish that raw pet food generally exceeds a hygiene threshold for that group; it also cautions that its non-random sample cannot support generalisation. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe bacteriological quality of raw commercial pet foods, assessed by total bacterial, coliform or E. coli counts, has been noted to fail threshold levels for raw human meat products in a high proportion of sampled foods in both Europe and North America.
“The bacteriological quality of raw commercial pet foods, assessed by total bacterial, coliform or E. coli counts, has been noted to fail threshold levels for raw human meat products in a high proportion of sampled foods in both Europe and North America (Freeman & Michel 2001, Weese et al. 2005, Kölle & Schmidt 2015, Nilsson 2015, van Bree et al. 2018).”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSTEC O157:H7 was isolated from around 20% of raw diet samples in a recent survey from the Netherlands.
“STEC O157:H7 was isolated from some raw diets, around 20% of samples, in a recent survey from the Netherlands (van Bree et al. 2018)”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
The Bacterial analysis section reports E. coli O157:H7 in 8 of 35 Dutch raw-diet products (23%), consistent with ‘around 20%.’ The E. coli O157:H7 methods section describes detection of that serotype, but our copy does not establish that the isolates produced Shiga toxin; the ‘STEC’ designation is therefore not supported. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredNumbers of E. coli in frozen raw pet food commonly exceed EU limits for minced meat destined for human consumption, sometimes by two or more orders of magnitude.
“Numbers of E. coli in frozen raw pet food commonly exceed EU limits for minced meat destined for human consumption, sometimes by two or more orders of magnitude”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
The Discussion (page not available) reports that 14 of 35 frozen raw pet foods failed E. coli hygiene criteria for meat intended for human consumption. However, the Bacterial analysis reports a maximum of 11,000 cfu/g—22 times the stated 500 cfu/g upper threshold, not two orders of magnitude above it. The claim's magnitude is therefore not supported for that threshold. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredNumbers of E. coli in frozen raw pet food exceed the EU absolute threshold (5×10^3 cfu/g) for raw pet food at the point of production.
“and also exceed the EU absolute threshold (5×103 cfu/g; Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011) for raw pet food at the point of production (Nilsson 2015, van Bree et al. 2018)”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
The Bacterial analysis section reports E. coli counts as high as 1.1×10^4 cfu/g in the frozen raw meat-based diets studied, so at least one measured product exceeded 5×10^3 cfu/g. Our copy does not identify 5×10^3 cfu/g as an EU threshold or establish the products’ counts at the point of production; the study tested the products after thawing them. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Surveys in Europe and North America have consistently found Salmonella species in a proportion of raw pet food samples, typically of fresh-frozen commercial diets.
“Surveys in Europe and North America have consistently found Salmonella species in a proportion of samples, typically of fresh‐frozen commercial diets.”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
A recent study in the Netherlands reported Salmonella isolation from 20% of 35 commercial raw food samples.
“A recent study in the Netherlands reported Salmonella isolation from 20% of 35 commercial raw food samples (van Bree et al. 2018), while in Italy, pork and chicken material available for pet food manufacture yielded Salmonella from 12% of samples (Bacci et al. 2019).”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 54% of Dutch products sold as frozen raw pet food.
“Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 54% of Dutch products sold as frozen raw pet food (van Bree et al. 2018)”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
A study in the Netherlands reported that 28 of 35 raw pet food products yielded ESBL-positive E. coli.
“A study in the Netherlands reported that 28 of 35 raw pet food products yielded ESBL‐positive E. coli (van Bree et al. 2018)”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
PCR techniques detected Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma in a minority of Dutch raw food samples.
“PCR techniques detected Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma in a minority of Dutch raw food samples (van Bree et al. 2018).”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as van Bree et al. 2018
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Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards.
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“CONTROLS ON SOURCE MATERIALS AND PROCESSORS Source animal species for raw pet foods appear to be diverse (Weese et al. 2005, Mehlenbacher et al. 2012, van Bree et al. 2018).”
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- Authors
- van Bree, F. P. J., Bokken, G. C. A. M., Mineur, R., Franssen, F., Opsteegh, M., van der Giessen, J. W. B., Lipman, L. J. A., & Overgaauw, P. A. M.
- Affiliations
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Utrecht University (NL)
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (NL)
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment Bilthoven The Netherlands
- Corresponding author
- Overgaauw, Paul A M
- Venue
- Veterinary Record
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-01
- Volume
- 182
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 50-50
- ISSN
- 0042-4900 (ISSN-L)
- 2042-7670
- OpenAlex
- W2782560035
- Cited by
- 206
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 8 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 22.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Veterinary Record (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Rivm (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) (submittedVersion)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Listeria monocytogenes in Food Safety
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Safety and Hygiene
- Keywords
- raw meat-based diets, zoonotic pathogens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Sarcocystis cruzi, Sarcocystis tenella, Toxoplasma gondii, commercial pet food, cats, dogs, food safety, parasite contamination
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cats, Diet, Dogs, Food Microbiology, Humans, Meat, Netherlands, Zoonoses, Food Parasitology, Raw Foods
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