Investigation of Salmonella contamination in cat foods marketed in Japan

Abstract

Salmonella are important pathogenic bacteria as cause of disease both for human and animal. In US, surveillance of Salmonella-contaminated cat foods were carried out. However there are little reports on surveillance of Salmonella-contaminated cat foods in Japan. Therefore, we carried out investigation of Salmonella-contaminated cat foods in Japan. We carried out this surveillance following the procedure of Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center in accordance with Pet Food Safety Law. Twenty-nine domestic dry food samples and fourteen imported dry food samples were examined. Seventeen domestic wet food samples and forty-seven imported wet food samples were examined. We did not detect Salmonella from any samples. Therefore, the risk of human and feline health hazards related to Salmonella contamination of cat food in Japan was considered to be low.