Raw Cat Food Study Finds Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance
A recent study, funded by the Cornell Feline Health Center Natural Nutrition Award, has raised concerns about the safety of raw commercial cat food products. The research, focusing on the microbial content of 112 cat food items from various manufacturers, including LEONARDO, Frolic, and Eukanuba, revealed the presence of pathogenic species and antimicrobial resistance genes exclusively in raw and partially cooked foods.
The study identified 19 bacterial genera in raw cat foods, including potential pathogens like Salmonella, Clostridium, and Escherichia. Notably, freeze-dried products showed distinct microbial signatures, with the Clostridium sensu stricto I genus predicting raw, freeze-dried products with 95% sensitivity and 78% specificity. Some Bacillus strains harbored a carbapenemase gene, and multidrug efflux pumps were highly abundant in frozen raw isolates.
Frozen raw food products were associated with Pseudomonas, Paraclostridium, and Peptostreptococcus genera, while Bacillus was associated with conventional processing. However, even freeze-dried raw products sold as shelf-stable items at room temperature still contained pathogenic species and high loads of resistance genes. Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fulva were isolated from frozen raw products.
The study's findings highlight potential health risks to cats and their human caregivers due to microbiota sharing and the presence of pathogenic species and antimicrobial resistance genes in raw commercial cat food products. Cat owners and caregivers are advised to be cautious when handling and feeding raw or partially cooked cat food products, and to prioritize hygiene and safety measures to minimize potential health risks.
Read also:
- FDA's Generic Mifepristone Approval Sparks Pro-Life Concerns Over Safety and States' Rights
- Understanding Child Development: Causes and Signs of Delays
- Top Superfoods for Hormonal Health: Avocados, Berries, Flaxseeds, Turmeric, and Cruciferous Veggies
- Pope Francis' New Book 'Let Us Dream' Offers Unity and Hope for Post-Covid World
