Natural Chew Products and Food Safety

Over the last few years, diseases such as BSE, Foot & Mouth disease, salmonella contamination and the avian flu have become household names. Knowing this makes it hard to understand how it is possible that pet shops all over the world are still given the opportunity to sell vulnerable dog chews without any form of packaging. Cross contamination, diseases, bacteria and viruses form a real threat when these products are not dried to the core and nor are packed in top-quality and safe packaging. Not to mention the fact that many of these products originate from slaughterhouses and drying facilities that are not EC-approved. Therefore, there is an enormous possibility that they have not been dried to the core, giving mould and bacteria-or salmonella contamination free range. All kinds of dangerous bacteria are given the opportunity to roam free over these products if they are not (correctly) packed.

Just imagine this scenario: people are picking up possibly contaminated products with their bare hands and if these products (often imported from countries outside the EU) have not been dried correctly, there is a serious health and contamination risk. "More often than not you'll notice the stench and flies and other insects on the loose chew products in pet shops," says Ronald Prins, president of Proline Petfood, manufacturer of dog treats. "Unpacked chew products tend to dry out and lose flavour. What people also tend to forget is that, even though a dog may not be so sensitive to salmonella contamination, for human beings it is a realistic threat," Prins continues. "Many people die every year due to salmonella contamination. Recall of bad or contaminated products is not possible due to lack of traceability for loose products".

A recent US study proved that five patients suffered from salmonella infections they contracted from handling pet treats that had not been dried sufficiently. Therefore, the association between animals, humans and the handling of pet treats containing animal products, treats which are available in pet shops and retail stores, could play a role in the increasing salmonella infections worldwide.

On 1 May 2003, a law was passed for the European Union (EC Regulation 1774/2002) concerning the health regulations for dog chews. This law requires that all chew products are to be packed in new packaging, from the manufacturer all the way up to the pet shop. It is currently being discussed if the law should be adjusted to contain a special stipulation for pet shops requiring by law that dog chews sold in pet shops are packaged in a new and safe packaging and that the chews are dried at the minimun required temperature in order to ensure that all bacteria are destroyed. Both pet shop owners and distributors of dog chews should be more aware of the risks involved. This is the only way to guarantee that the dog chews sold in pet shops are safe for both dogs and their owners.

Source: PRINS & Zin