Darwin’s Refusal to Cooperate in Dog Food Recall Triggers FDA Action; Food Poses “Serious Threat to Human and Animal Health”
UPDATE: April 4, 2019
The owner of Darwin’s, Gary Tashjian, defended his position for refusing to cooperate with the FDA by providing the agency with the company’s customer information saying that doing so, “would violate its consumer privacy policy.”
The company told the agency they had alerted their customers directly and there was no need for a public notification, but because Darwin’s refused to cooperate, the agency followed protocol which was to notify the public of the recall, saying, “in the absence of an adequate public notification by the firm or confirmation from the firm that it has promptly and effectively communicated the recall to all customers, the agency may issue its own public notification.”
The FDA said it was following standard procedure, and that any information collected would be confidential. Tashjian defended his position by saying that, “the last thing we want to do is get into a fight with the FDA,” Tashjian said. Yet, that is exactly what he did.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public statement warning consumers about Darwin’s dog food after the company refused to issue public notification warning consumers who might have purchased the food.
The FDA is cautioning pet owners not to feed their pets three lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw dog food after samples from these lots tested positive for Salmonella. These products are as follows.
- Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs: 5309(11)181019, manufactured on October 19, 2018
- Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs: 5375(11)181106, manufactured on November 6, 2018
- Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Turkey Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs: 5339(11)181026, manufactured on October 26, 2018
The FDA collected and analyzed unopened samples of products from these three lots of which all three lots tested positive for Salmonella.
DARWIN’S PUBLIC PROTEST
Following the FDA notification, the company issued a press release complaining of being unfairly targeted by the agency, accusing them of singling them – and all other raw pet food manufacturers – out, while deliberately ignoring other types of pet food such as kibble.
The company also flatly refutes the FDA’s findings, claiming their testing did not find any measurable amounts of Salmonella, calling into question the veracity of the FDA’s test results.
Not surprisingly, the company also stringently objects to the zero-tolerance standard that the FDA has set for pathogens in pet food, asserting that low levels of pathogens are unlikely to pose a health risk to humans or animals.
The company also claims they have not received any complaints related to the contaminated food, yet the FDA notification indicated the agency investigation into Darwin’s was initiated following a consumer complaint.
PATHOGENS IN MEAT: FDA v. USDA
Because of the divergent – and some feel unfair – regulation of pathogens in pet food and pathogen in meat and poultry for humans consumption, it helps to understand how two government agencies (the FDA and the USDA) should govern pathogens in such a different manner.
Pet food is regulated by the FDA, while meat and poultry for human consumption are regulated by the USDA. USDA, unlike the FDA, allows for a certain level of Salmonella in raw meat and poultry because it is intended to be cooked.
However, because pet food is intended to be served without cooking, pet foods contaminated with pathogens creates a potential for pets exposed to these products. Therefore, when pathogens are detected in pet food, the FDA considers it a danger to the health and welfare of animals and humans.
HOW YOUR PET’S POOP SPREADS DISEASE
Unlike humans, who, hopefully, do not eat raw meat and poultry, properly dispose of their human waste, and practice good hygiene, pets, on the other hand, do not.
With pets, once Salmonella gets established in the pet’s gastrointestinal tract, your pet can shed the bacteria wherever it poops. And when it cleans itself after pooping, the bacteria spread to their mouth, which spreads it to their fur and any object or surfaces your pet comes in contact with – including you, your children and other pets.
You should be aware that when your infected dog poops – whether in your yard or a public park – your pet exposes other people and pets to disease.
PET FOOD SAFETY HEIGENE
As with any raw meat or poultry, you should thoroughly wash your hands after handling the product and clean up potentially contaminated items and surfaces. But unlike meat and poultry you feed yourself, when you bring a contaminated pet food product into your home, you should clean and disinfect all pet food bowls, pet food containers, pet bedding, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with.
IF YOUR PET IS SICK
People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians. Veterinarians who wish to have pets tested for Salmonella may do so through the Vet-LIRN Network if the pet is from a household with a person infected with Salmonella.
The FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.
DARWIN’S LEGION OF PROBLEMS
While the FDA continues the investigation of Darwin’s, it’s worth considering the legion of problems the company has been plagued with in recent years. While most companies will be faced with difficulties from time to time, it is the owner of the company, Gary Tashjian, who despite being repeatedly accused of serious pet food safety violations have consistently refused to accept responsibility for making and selling a pet food capable of causing the illness and death of pets. It is for this reason that I consider Darwin’s to be one of the most dangerous types of pet food companies.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DARWIN’S TROUBLED PAST
Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Raw Chicken Products
FDA Warns Darwin’s: Clean Up Your Act or Face The Regulatory Music
Inspection of Darwin’s Reveals Revolting Conditions, Complaints of Ill and Dying Pets
Darwin’s In Trouble Again; More Raw Dog Food Found Contaminated With Pathogenic Bacteria
FDA Investigates Darwin’s Pathogenic Pet Food Problems Following Illness and Death of Pets
Darwin’s Recalls Pet Food For Salmonella and Listeria; Pathogen Problems Date Back 17 Months
Sharp Bones, Plastic Bags and Metal Found in Darwin’s Dog Food; Complaints Date Back Months
YOU MADE IT TO THE END. BRAVO!
Now it’s my turn to talk about how Poisoned Pets survives.
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18 Comments
Deb
I respect what you are doing here, and as an animal lover I appreciate your information.
I also want to add that I have fed my girls Darwin’s raw pet food for over a decade, either in part or as their only food. My dogs on Darwin’s are larger breeds. A Bernese Mountain Dog and a Lab/Heeler mix. My BMD left us a year ago, within 4 months of turning 11. The standard lifespan for this wonderful breed is just 6-8 years. I have no doubt that Darwin’s was a big part of her amazing health until that last year, and part of the reason she lived for 7 months post splenectomy with Hemangiosarcoma. We were told a month, maybe two if very lucky.
Less than one year before she left, her holistic vet said GiGi was in amazing health for any BMD, not just one her age. While at that visit, another dog mom asked if my girl was a puppy! Just 3 days before she left she was still climbing into my lap while in a recliner. She was happy, she played and seemed to be in no pain at all. It was dog business as usual. My son in law commented just 3 days before that terrible day, that he thought she might outlive all of us!
My lab/heeler still eats Darwin’s in part. My rescue 3yo French Bulldog doesn’t do well on Darwin’s which seems to trigger allergies for her. She is fed The Farmer’s Dog and my Lab/heeler is also fed TFD for the balance of her nutrition. I would love to know if you have any input, opinions or info on TFD, bad or good.
I felt a need to add a positive word about Darwin’s since they have supplied my dogs’ nutrition, without incident, for a very long time. I believe sometimes these things are much like incidents with natural supplements or anything that is good for us in general. Not every natural supplement is going to benefit or even agree with the systems of everyone, and no matter how diligent the manufacturer, it is likely, over the duration of time that there will be some sort of misstep, oversight or mistake made. These things happen when many human heads and hands are involved. We only pray these incidents are minor and short lived.❤️
Lindsay M
You had me 100% on board until the “absolutely no oysters, not even HPPd”
For real? But have you tried one? And you’re a steak well done lady too?
Please note this has nothing to do with Darwin’s, there we agree. But a great cut of steak seared on the outside? An HPP or fresh out of the sea local raw oyster? Sorry… some things are definitely worth that infinitesimal risk. I think future generations will laugh at our over the top germaphobia. There is a vast difference between salmonella loaded raw poultry pet food shipped fed ex with an ice pack and a fresh shucked oyster.
Guess we’ll have to agree to somewhat disagree. ✌️
Angilia T P
oh my god ! its really effective information for me thanks
Peter
I’m glad to see reporting that describes things as they are.
I’m also frankly horrified to read comments directly from Barbara, and feel privileged to be able to read those. I’ve been there, not to the degree that she has, with another company. I’m sympathetic and very upset to read her comments… it’s nearly unbearable just to read them.
Barbara
Good to hear from you Mollie! Please feel free to publicize Leo’s case. I would like people to learn about how poorly Darwin’s and company treats their customers when it really counts. I would also like to inform pet families about the fact that Darwin’s raw food makes both cats and dogs sick. It’s important for consumers to know about the “Real” Darwin’s and their unethical business practices.
Barbara
Darwin’s is an unethical company. Darwin’s raw food nearly killed my cat in January 2019. He was hospitalized for 8 days, very near death. The animal hospital clearly documented the cause of my cat’s illness was from Darwin’s raw food. However, Darwin’s refused to take any responsibility, or notify the public about their tainted, bacteria ridden food. They refused any compassion for Leo, my best friend. The veterinary bills are now $10,000 in total, and the company will not compensate me for any of it. In fact Linda O’ Brien, the customer service manager, accused me of being a “hardship case,” implying I am just trying to gain money from the situation. Darwin’s made an awful situation even worse in their poor treatment of Leo and I.
jenn
Human do eat raw meat-sushi and bloody rare meat is raw-we also touch and handle all raw meats so the fda thing does not fly with me.
Denise
It’s getting to the point to where you almost have to make the dog food yourself. Putting trust in the pet food industry is risky business and not worth it. I feed my dogs a pet food that has never been recalled but that doesn’t mean anything.