U.S. federal authorities have taken legal action against a Washington state pet food manufacturer over concerns about bacterial contamination in some of its products.
The U.S. Department of Justice, working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has filed a complaint in federal court seeking to stop the company from manufacturing and distributing pet food that authorities say may pose health risks to pets and the people who handle them.
The case involves Arrow Reliance Inc., which does business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, according to the Justice Department.
What prompted the federal action?
According to the government’s complaint, FDA testing over several years found potentially harmful bacteria in samples of the company’s raw pet food products.
The bacteria identified in the complaint include Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
The government says the findings were not limited to a single incident. FDA sampling conducted between 2017 and 2025 allegedly detected pathogens in multiple samples.
The complaint states that among 18 FDA samples collected from 2023 onward, 12 tested positive for pathogens. Nine reportedly contained Salmonella, one contained Listeria monocytogenes and two contained both Salmonella and Listeria.
FDA had raised concerns before
The federal action follows earlier regulatory activity involving the company.
According to the Justice Department, the FDA issued warning letters to Darwin’s in 2018 and 2023 concerning food-safety issues.
The FDA also issued public health advisories involving certain Darwin’s products in previous years. In July 2025, for example, the agency warned consumers not to feed their pets certain lots after testing detected E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella.
The latest court action therefore represents a significant escalation from previous regulatory warnings and advisories.
Why can contaminated pet food affect people?
The concern extends beyond pets.
Bacteria such as Salmonella and certain strains of E. coli can potentially spread through contaminated food, surfaces or contact with infected animals.
The Justice Department complaint also describes a 2024 case involving a 4-year-old child who became seriously ill with a STEC infection and later developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.
The government says the child's household had been feeding its dog Darwin’s pet food. According to the complaint, testing later found Salmonella and STEC in unopened samples of pet food kept in the home.
The complaint further alleges that genetic testing found a match between the STEC found in the child and the STEC detected in one of the pet food samples.
However, these details come from the government's court filing. They are allegations and evidence presented by the government, and the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Reports involving sick pets
The Justice Department also says the FDA received 49 consumer complaints between 2016 and January 2026 involving Darwin’s pet food.
The complaints reportedly involved illnesses in dogs and cats, as well as reports of deaths.
These reports are part of the government's case, but they should not automatically be interpreted as proof that every reported illness or death was caused by the company's products.
What does the government want?
The Justice Department is asking the federal court for a permanent injunction that would prevent Arrow Reliance and its owner, Gary T. Tashjian, from manufacturing and distributing pet food unless they meet required federal food-safety and sanitation standards.
The government says the company must address issues involving its manufacturing practices, sanitation procedures and preventive controls.
The court will ultimately determine what happens next.
Is this a new nationwide pet food recall?
Not exactly.
The latest development is primarily a federal enforcement action and court complaint, rather than a new nationwide recall announcement.
The FDA has previously issued warnings involving specific Darwin’s products and lots, including the July 2025 advisory. Pet owners should therefore check FDA advisories and product information carefully if they have Darwin’s products at home.
The Bottom Line
The FDA and Justice Department say repeated testing and regulatory concerns over potentially harmful bacteria have led to the latest federal action against a Washington-based pet food manufacturer.
The government is now asking a federal court to stop the company from producing and distributing pet food unless it meets required safety standards.
For pet owners, the key takeaway is to pay attention to FDA warnings and specific product advisories rather than assuming that every product from a manufacturer is affected.
Editorial note: The allegations described above come from the federal government's complaint. The company is entitled to respond, and the allegations remain subject to the court process.
