The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a video on the safe handling of petfood and treats, called "Pet Food and Treats in Your Home."
In the YouTube video, Dr. April Hodges, a nutritional scientist at the FDA, explains the most common dangers of various contaminants, such as Salmonella, that may be found in petfood. The video also goes over how to avoid such contaminants:
- Avoid damaged packaging, such as dented cans or torn bags
- Keep petfood and treats in an easily cleaned space to reduce the possibility of contamination
- Immediately clean surfaces that might have come into contact with petfood
- Wash hands and dishes that have come into contact with petfood
- Use utensils strictly for petfood to avoid cross-contamination
- Properly store any unused portion of semi-wet/wet petfood in the refrigerator
- Keep dry petfood in a cool, dry place and seal properly to avoid spoilage
- Keep original packaging of petfood in case information is needed for suspected illnesses
Hodges also details the steps to take if a consumer suspects a pet has become ill from petfood, including how to get proper care and who to notify.
