Study Finds Pet Parents Lax on Dog Food Hygiene

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Generally speaking, we humans are invested in our gustatory hygiene. We run a shower of tap water over our hands, fold in a couple pumps of soap and rinse thoroughly before tearing the radicchio or slicing the Roma tomatoes. Raw chicken and asparagus demand separate cutting boards and another round of hand washing. Sated and happy, we scrub and dry our dishes thoroughly before the next day’s meal is heaped upon them.

Too bad we aren’t as meticulous about our pets’ food safety. A study just released by North Carolina State University found that many pet parents surveyed were lax about their pets’ food preparation and clean up after meals.

More than 400 pet parents were queried about their knowledge of FDA-published pet food handling and food bowl hygiene guidelines and the specific food handling and bowl hygiene habits practiced at home for their dog(s). A subset of 50 participants were invited to complete a food bowl bacterial contamination study.  To minimize bias, a baseline food bowl swab was obtained, then participants were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Food bowl swabs were repeated at the end of study. Study design did not compare bacteria levels in dog food bowls containing wet versus dry food.

Group A was instructed to to follow the FDA’s Tips for Safe Handling of Pet Food and Treats; Group B was given this same instruction, plus the extra-stringent food handling guidelines in FDA Code 217; Group C was given no specific instructions regarding food and or bowl handling but was informed when the follow-up swab would be taken.

Less than 5 percent of respondents knew that FDA pet food guidelines even existed. Asked where they might find this information, 8 percent replied the FDA, 41percent the food label, 28 percent their veterinarian, 11 percent the store of purchase, 6 percent the USDA and 6 percent various websites.

More than three quarters of participants inspected pet food packaging for visible damage, avoided using the food bowl as a scooping utensil, tightly covered leftover pet food, discarded food in a way a pet could not access, and avoided raw food. However, less than a quarter reported hand washing prior to handling pet food, and washing the food dish and food scoop as recommended after each use.

About 22 percent washed their pet’s dish once weekly, on average. However, there was a wide distribution of responses: 12 percent reported washing their pet’s dish at least once daily; 18 percent reported they wash their pet’s dish either less than every three months or not at all. Analysis of the pre- and post- pet food bowl swabs in the three treatment groups showed a “significant decrease” in bacterial concentration among Groups A and B while Group C showed a “non-significant increase” in bacterial levels.

Results showed overall low compliance with hygiene-related handling practices (washing of hands, bowl and utensil). Moreover, authors cite additional studies indicating that people overstate their hygiene practices under pressure of “social desirability bias.” The implications are telling; there have been multiple outbreaks of human and canine illness following exposure to dog food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli. Several pet food recalls have ben issued in recent years. 

Findings suggest that “education beyond awareness is needed to allow for effective hygiene changes . . . to minimize bacterial contamination of dishes, especially for high-risk populations,” study authors wrote. The very young and immunocompromised individuals and pets are especially vulnerable to food borne illness.

Since none of us would eat off the same unwashed plate for three months . . .