By Linda Bren
Always keep canned pet food refrigerated after opening. If you store dry pet food in a container other than its original bag, be sure to wash the empty container with soap and water before adding food from a new bag. The residual fat that settles on the bottom of the container can become rancid beyond its shelf life (the date stamped on the bag). This spoiled fat may contaminate fresh food added to the container, causing vomiting or diarrhea when fed to your pet.

Irradiation of Pet Food

In April, the FDA approved an irradiation process that can be used on all animal feed and feed ingredients, including pet food and treats. This process can reduce the risk of contamination from all strains of Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella organisms can cause gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea in people and pets. Irradiation, which causes chemical changes, is already approved for use on a variety of human foods. Extending this process to pet and other animal foods will increase the safety of the food for both the animals consuming it and the people handling it.