Pet food and treats

On this page

• About pet food and treats
• People at higher risk
• Types of pet food and treats
• Safe handling and storage
• Outbreaks

About pet food and treats

In Canada, pet food products aren't subject to the same regulations and testing as food intended for humans. Pet food and treats can carry germs, including Salmonella and E. coli bacteria, which can make people and pets sick.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has investigated outbreaks of human illness in Canada due to bacteria found in:

• kibble
• raw pet food
• raw pet treats
• feeder rodents for reptiles

Harmful germs can be spread to anyone who has contact with a pet or their food or treats. Even if pets don't show any signs of illness, they can still infect people who are in contact with them or their environment. It's also possible for infected people without symptoms to still infect others.

When deciding what to feed your pet, talk to your veterinarian. They can provide advice to keep you, your pet and your family healthy. You can help by practicing safe handling, storage and clean-up of pet food and treats.

People at higher risk

Most people who become ill from germs like Salmonella and E. coli will fully recover after a few days. However, those at higher risk for serious illness include:

• older adults
• pregnant people
• children 5 years and under
• people with weakened immune systems

Types of pet food and treats

Dry or canned pet food and treats can include foods such as:

• kibble
• cans or pouches of wet food
• chews or biscuits

Raw pet food and treats can be prepared at home or commercially, and can include foods such as:

• uncooked eggs
• unpasteurized dairy products
• uncooked meat, bones and organs
• dehydrated treats such as rawhide, pig ears and bully sticks

Raw pet food and treats may be fresh, frozen, dehydrated or freeze-dried. Some treats and food toppers (food that is added to or mixed in with a pet's regular food) are also raw, including freeze-dried treats and rawhide chews. Without additional processing steps to kill bacteria and other pathogens, raw pet food products may have a higher risk of germs being in them.

The Public Health Agency of Canada does not recommend feeding raw pet food or treats to pets. Harmful germs such as Salmonella and E. coli have been found in commercially prepared raw pet food and treats. They can also be found in many raw meats and products used in homemade diets. Animals that eat raw meat are more likely to spread harmful germs through their feces (poop) than those fed only kibble or cooked food. Even animals that appear healthy can spread harmful germs to you, your family and your other pets.

Safe handling and storage

Safe handling tips for pet food and treats

• Use dedicated dishes and utensils for pet food and wash them separately from other dishes and utensils.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after feeding your pets.
• Do not leave leftover raw pet food or treats in your pet's bowl.
• Wash and sanitize any containers, utensils and surfaces that have come into contact with pet food or treats, including food and water bowls, countertops, microwaves and refrigerators.
  • Use a kitchen cleaner (follow instructions on the container) or bleach solution (5 mL household bleach to 750 mL of water) and then rinse with water before using them again.
• Read the labels on pet food and treats to find out the ingredients, expiry date, and if the food is cooked or raw.

Safe storage tips for pet food and treats

• Store pet food according to package guidelines.
• Properly chill and store pet food that needs to be kept cold.
• Raw pet food may need to be stored frozen or refrigerated.
• When thawing raw food:
  • keep pet food away from human food
  • thaw on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator
  • thaw only as much as needed
  • place it in a sealed, clean container that will hold any juices that may leak out
  • do not re-freeze food after thawing.
• Use separate containers to store pet food and human food.
• Store pet food and treats in a dry area, away from human food.
• Feed your pet in a different room than where you prepare or eat food.
• Store pet food and treats out of reach of young children and pick up treats and food bowls when your pet is done with them.

Protect yourself while interacting with your pet

• Don't allow your pet to lick your face, mouth or open wounds.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after playing with your pet.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after handling pet waste.

Safe handling and storage of feeder rodents for reptiles

Live and frozen feeder rodents (such as mice and rats) and the animals that eat them (snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs) can carry germs like Salmonella bacteria.

Bacteria can contaminate areas where live rodents are housed or handled, or where frozen rodents are prepared, thawed or stored. Salmonella can spread to people after they touch rodents, reptiles or any areas that come in contact with them, including their tanks or cages.

• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water right after touching live or frozen feeder rodents, or anything that was in contact with them.
• Thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces and objects that feeder rodents may have touched.
• Keep live rodents in habitats specifically designed for them.
• Keep and thaw frozen feeder rodents in separate containers away from kitchens and other food preparation areas.
• Feeder rodents shouldn't be handled by anyone who:
  • is pregnant
  • is an older adult
  • is 5 years of age or younger
  • has a weakened immune system.

Outbreaks

In the past 20 years, the Public Health Agency of Canada has investigated several outbreaks of human illness linked to pet food or treat exposure, including those shown in the following table. While this table only includes cases that were confirmed by laboratory analysis, the true number of people in Canada that were sick as a part of these outbreaks is likely much higher. Researchers estimate that for each case of salmonellosis reported to public health, an additional 25 cases go unreported, and for each case of E. coli O157 reported to public health, an additional 19 cases go unreported.

Outbreaks of human illness linked to pet food or treat exposure

Year	Pathogen	Source	Number of Canadian cases	Number of provinces/ territories with cases
2020 to 2024	Salmonella	Raw pet food and contact with cattle	44	6
2022 to 2024	Salmonella	Snakes and feeder rodents	76	8
2020	Salmonella	Pig ear pet treats	10	3
2020	E. coli	Raw pet food	5	3
2019 to 2021	Salmonella	Feeder rodents for snakes	106	7
2012 to 2014	Salmonella	Feeder rodents for snakes	134	5
2012	Salmonella	Kibble pet food	2	2
2010	Salmonella	Frozen reptile feed (mice, rats and chicks)	22	4
2005	Salmonella	Natural, animal-derived (beef and seafood origin) pet treats	6	2

Related resources

• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association position statement on raw meat-based diets for pets
• Salmonella and reptiles
• Reptiles and amphibians: Healthy animals, healthy people
• Rodents: Healthy animals, healthy people
• Pets: Healthy animals, healthy people
• Pet food safety (Infographic)
• Raw pet food safety (Infographic)
• Public health notices, including current outbreaks
• Recalls of consumer products, including pet food and treats