Salmonella

Salmonella is a genus of bacteria that can contaminate pet food, especially raw animal-derived ingredients and certain [raw](/glossary/raw) or [BARF](/glossary/barf)-style diets, and contamination causes salmonellosis, with diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and lethargy in the animal. The risk also extends to people in the household through contact with the food, the bowl or the faeces, making it a public-health concern, with children, older adults and immunocompromised people more vulnerable (FDA; EFSA). Health authorities have recalled many batches, both kibble and raw products, after detecting Salmonella. Cooking by [extrusion](/glossary/extrusion) sharply reduces bacterial load, but recontamination after cooking remains possible, which is why manufacturers apply [HACCP](/glossary/haccp) plans and microbiological testing before releasing batches. For raw diets, strict handling hygiene is advised: washing hands and surfaces after every meal limits cross-transmission to people, and storing raw food separately from human food in the fridge further reduces the chance of spreading the organism, reinforcing the importance of [cross-contamination](/glossary/cross-contamination) control. The marker: Salmonella is both an animal-health and a public-health hazard, so its management spans the factory and the home, and it is a leading reason for a [product recall](/glossary/product-recall), as documented throughout the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

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