For as long as the food industry has been processing raw animal products, many of those products could be sold to consumers despite the presence of many pathogens. Raw animal products such as beef and poultry, for instance, are not adulterated if they contain Listeria or Salmonella. Although ground beef containing E. coli O157:H7 is adulterated, intact beef containing the bacteria is safe and wholesome and can be legally sold. This set of rules developed and enforced by FSIS has worked well, and for decades has allowed the meat industry provide safe and quality products to consumers throughout the nation.
Recent actions by FDA, however, may question and even infringe upon long-standing FSIS policy. Indeed, FDA has announced that it will begin considering any pet food containing pathogens to be adulterated, regardless of the type of pet food or pathogen. Thus, the new FDA policy will apply with equal force to both processed and raw pet foods. In turn, this means that although a processor could legally ship a T-Bone steak containing Listeria, Salmonella or E. coli O157:H7 for human consumption, if the processor puts the T-Bone in a bag labeled “pet food,” according to FDA, it becomes illegal to sell.