Raw and risky?

Raw meat risks

Raw meat and animal by-products, whether intended for human consumption, for raw meat-based diets (RMBD) or for extruded and canned pet food, are at risk of bacterial contamination. The risk is at its peak during manipulation at slaughter, evisceration, processing or packaging when contamination with digestive contents, feathers, or similar contaminants could take place.

Pathogens and parasites

There are many different pathogens threatening the safety of raw meat, but Salmonella spp is most commonly reported in the context of public health risk. Other important pathogens to keep in mind when addressing raw meat hygiene are Escherichia coli O157: H7, Clostridium spp., Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria spp. As for parasites, ones to pay attention to include Toxoplasma gondii, Echinococcus multilocularis, Sarcocystis spp. and Neospora caninum.

Control measures

Luckily, control over parasitic contamination can be achieved relatively easily by freezing, but parameters such as parasite species, size of the frozen material and temperature all play a role. Conversely, bacterial contamination seems to be a more challenging factor to control completely, even by conducting protocols such as high hydrostatic pressure treatment.

Control of zoonoses, such as salmonellosis, is carried out by applying complex veterinary measures. Differences in legal requirements, from one part of the world to the other certainly do not help. Additionally, no legal obligation exists that covers all the possible pathogens.

From pets to humans

The public health risk becomes apparent through the coexistence of humans and pets in the same households. Owners and other members of the household become exposed daily to contact transmission of pathogens that may be present in the diet or through environmental contamination. Additionally, our pets can become asymptomatic carriers and thus excrete microorganisms into the environment that pose a risk for individuals with a weak immune system, children, elderly and pregnant women.

There is a long way to go when it comes to raw food safety and most veterinary professionals do not seem to be comfortable recommending raw meat feeding regimes. We must continue to strive for better education, transparency, and pet food quality control.