Darwin’s Natural Selections raw pet food tests positive for Salmonella, Listeria

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to pet owners after samples of five Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, made by Arrow Reliance Inc., tested positive for Salmonella. A sixth sample tested positive for both Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono).

The affected products come in frozen 2-pound packages and include specific lots of Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for both cats and dogs. These items should not be fed to pets.

Darwin’s Natural Selections products are typically sold through an online subscription service, and while the FDA has recommended a recall of all six product lots, the company has yet to issue one and may continue distributing the affected items. Pet owners are advised to check lot numbers carefully and discard any listed products in a secure container.

Impacted products

The affected lots of pet food are in 2-pound white and clear plastic packages with four separate units. The dog food has blue labeling, and the cat food has blue and green labeling. The lot codes are printed on the front of the lower left unit of the package. The affected varieties and lot codes are:

• Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
  • Lot No: 10832 MFG. Date: Jul 25, 2024
• Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats 
  • Lot No: 10856 MFG. Date: Aug 04, 2024
• Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
  • Lot No: 10890 MFG. Date: Aug 13, 2024
• Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
  • Lot No: 10828 MFG. Date: Jul 24, 2024
• Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
  • Lot No: 10844 MFG. Date: Jul 30, 2024
• Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs
  • Lot No: 10887 MFG. Date: Aug 12, 2024

Darwin's response 

In a September 20, 2024, memo from the company to consumers which was sent to Petfood Industry, Darwin's Natural Pet Products had this to say given the FDA's public notice regarding the affected lots of cat and dog food. 

"It is important to know that, per the FDA, Salmonella and Listeria are not typically harmful to pets," stated the memo. "Nonetheless, these product lots were flagged under the FDA’s zero-tolerance policy, which is largely designed for human safety and for food that humans will consume, not pets. In fact, the products tested positive for these bacteria only following an incubation period of multiple weeks; it was not detectable using conventional testing methods and third-party testing for all lots negative for listeria. 

"It is also very important to know that the FDA has received no consumer complaints regarding these lots," the memo stated.

In addition, Darwin's said it was notifying consumers despite the FDA'S "wholly unnecessary" action which is "ultimately, based on flawed regulatory decision-making." To prevent a recurrence of this situation, the company said in the memo it has taken steps to make its position clear to the agency.

"Darwin’s is confident our meals are safe," added the memo. "We use only high-quality ingredients, sourcing all of our proteins from facilities that meet or exceed USDA standards. In addition to a rigid vendor approval program, all of our products are treated in advance of production with an antimicrobial solution to reduce pathogens. Our rigorous sourcing and manufacturing protocols help ensure the safety of our products while maintaining the good bacteria that are crucial to our pets’ gut health and immune systems."

Darwin's noted it will continue update its website page on this situation with FAQs and more information regarding the lots tested.

To read the full memo, click here.

Previous FDA attention to Arrow Reliance

In August 2023, the FDA cautioned pet owners not to feed their pets certain lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food, made by Arrow Reliance Inc., after FDA samples from the lots listed below tested positive for Salmonella. In 2022, the FDA cautioned pet owners not to feed their pets certain lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat food. Samples from these lots tested positive for Salmonella. These cat foods were associated with cases of illness in three kittens in a single household. 

In 2019, the FDA issued an alert to caution pet owners not to feed their animals three lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw dog food. Samples from these lots tested positive for Salmonella.