When Pet Snacks Look Like Children's Toys! The Potential Role of Pet Snacks in Transmission of Bacterial Zoonotic Pathogens in the Household

Abstract

Recent foodborne pathogen outbreaks associated with dry pet food and treats have focused the attention on these products as vehicles of pathogens for both pets and their owners. This study investigates the purchasing habits of dog owners and determines if and in what form pet snacks can be potentially dangerous for humans, especially for children. For these purposes, questionnaires collected from 406 dog owners were evaluated and microbiological analyses were performed on 120 dry pet snacks. The shape of the pet snack affects the purchase (median score, Mdn = 6.4) and the star bone was the preferred one (Mdn = 7.1). Most of the participants (76.0%; p < 0.001) stated that snacks are attractive to their children and that the possibility for children to get in contact with pet snacks is rare, but not implausible (Mdn = 3.1). Indeed, more than 6% of respondents admitted that there had been incidents of involuntary ingestion of pet snacks, with fever and gastrointestinal manifestations. Microbiological analyses showed that 119 dry pet snacks analyzed of a total of 120 (99.2%) were in good sanitary condition except for one sample where the presence of Listeria ivanovii was confirmed. The upward trend in the presence of pets in households and the strong and continuous growth in value and volume of the pet food market led researchers to analyze possible public health issues. Children and infants in particular are the most exposed subjects as they are more likely to come into contact with pet snacks, attracted by a shape similar to that of a toy. For this reason, although our findings did not highlight important microbiological contamination of pet snacks, it would be useful to standardize food safety criteria with those for human food from a One Health perspective.

Risk factors associated with food consumption and food-handling habits for sporadic listeriosis: a case–control study in China from 2013 to 2022

“…This may explain why pet ownership was not a risk factor in the perinatal group. Moreover, foodborne pathogen outbreaks associated with pet food have highlighted these products as vehicles for pathogens in both pets and their owners [ 33 ]. One study showed that presumptive Listeria species were detected in 64% of pet food product brands in Lebanon [ 34 ].…”

“…An investigation also reported that more than 6% of respondents acknowledged incidents of involuntary ingestion of pet snacks, resulting in fever and gastrointestinal manifestations. In the cited study, children and infants are particularly vulnerable, as they are more likely to come into contact with pet snacks due to their toy-like appearance [ 33 ]. The upward trend in pet ownership and close contact between people and pets may also increase the likelihood of infection.…”

Virulence Characteristics and Distribution of the Pathogen Listeria ivanovii in the Environment and in Food

“…Finally, in a study evaluating the microbiological quality of dry pet snacks, the presence of L. ivanovii was reported in 1 among 120 samples analyzed, while the other 119 samples appeared in good sanitary condition [157]. It can be observed that the distribution of positivity rates was not very variable for different food categories, except for a few investigations reporting exceptionally high values.…”

“…Finally, in a study evaluating the microbiological quality of dry pet snacks, the presence of L. ivanovii was reported in 1 among 120 samples analyzed, while the other 119 samples appeared in good sanitary condition [157].…”

Virulence Characteristics and Distribution of the Pathogen <em>Listeria</em> <em>Ivanovii</em> in the Environment and in Food

“…Finally, in a study evaluating the microbiological quality of dry pet snacks, the presence of Listeria ivanovii was reported in one among 120 samples analyzed, while the other 119 samples appeared in good sanitary condition [149].…”