AVMA and AAHA Oppose Raw Diets

In August the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) had a conference in California. A policy was passed which stated their official opposition to pet owners feeding raw diets.

The amended text is in red. "Avoid feeding" was changed from "Never feed" to sound less bossy.

Raw or Undercooked Animal-Source Protein in Cat and Dog Diets
The AVMA discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs as well as humans. Cooking or pasteurization through the application of heat until the protein reaches an internal temperature adequate to destroy pathogenic organisms has been the traditional method used to eliminate pathogens in animal-source protein, although the AVMA recognizes that newer technologies and other methods such as irradiation are constantly being developed and implemented.

Animal-source proteins of concern include beef, pork, poultry, fish, and other meat from domesticated or wild animals as well as milk* and eggs. Several studies [1–6] reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals have demonstrated that raw or undercooked animal-source protein may be contaminated with a variety of pathogenic organisms, including Salmonella spp, Campylobacter spp, Clostridium spp, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus. Cats and dogs may develop foodborne illness after being fed animal-source protein contaminated with these organisms if adequate steps are not taken to eliminate pathogens; secondary transmission of these pathogens to humans (eg, pet owners) has also been reported.[1,4] Cats and dogs can develop subclinical infections with these organisms but still pose a risk to livestock, other nonhuman animals, and humans, especially children, older persons, and immunocompromised individuals.

To mitigate public health risks associated with feeding inadequately treated animal-source protein to cats and dogs, the AVMA recommends the following:

• Avoid feeding inadequately treated animal-source protein to cats and dogs
• Restrict cats’ and dogs’ access to carrion and animal carcasses (eg, while hunting)
• Provide fresh, clean, nutritionally balanced and complete commercially prepared or home-cooked food to cats and dogs, and dispose of uneaten food at least daily
• Practice personal hygiene (eg, handwashing) before and after feeding cats and dogs, providing treats, cleaning pet dishes, and disposing of uneaten food

The AVMA recognizes that some people prefer to feed raw or undercooked animal-source protein to their pets. The AVMA recommends that veterinarians inform pet owners of potential risks and educate them on how to best mitigate the risk of pathogen exposure in both handling the food and in managing pets consuming undercooked or raw animal-source protein diets.

The old policy can be viewed here to compare, which includes the sources cited.

Due to the uproar created when pet owners and raw feeders became aware of the potential for this policy, the AVMA responded in July previous to the conference:

The AVMA cannot, and will not, regulate what pet owners choose to feed their pets. If you already feed raw food to your pet, that’s your choice. This proposed policy is about mitigating public health risks, not about restricting or banning any products. Our policies are intended to present the scientific facts, which in this case are: 1) Scientific studies have shown that raw and undercooked protein can be sources of infection with Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus. These infections can sicken pets and pet owners alike, and can be life-threatening; 2) unless a raw protein product has been subjected to a process that eliminates pathogens that can make pets and people ill, it poses a significant public health risk to both pets and pet owners. Our policies are based on a thorough review of the scientific literature and are drafted by veterinarians with expertise in relevant fields (in this case, public health).

It's pretty clear that the reason the AVMA opposes raw diets is because of the concern of pathogens spreading to and affecting humans. How valid are these claims? I was quite aware of the dangers of handling and eating raw meat because of the potential to come into contact with harmful bacteria and become seriously ill or even die long before I ever even heard of feeding raw meat to pets. Walk into any grocery store with a meat department and you'll see people grabbing packages of meat to take home. What happens when they use it? They touch it. They hold the meat so they can trim fat, or dredge it in flour, or form ground meat into burger patties. Then what? They wash their hands, knives, cutting boards, plates, counters, pans, and anything the meat could have come into contact with. Why would raw feeders be assumed to handle raw meat any differently? If anything, raw feeders are usually more aware of the potential hazards due to frequently handling raw meat.

Veterinarian Ashley Hughes, DVM spoke about the new AVMA policy to WUSA9 news. She says, "So if you have children in the house, or elderly in your house, or anyone who is immunocompromised, its dangerous to feed raw food." WHAT?! Is she serious? She seems serious. So what about handling raw meat for yourselves? Raw is so "dangerous" that children or elderly people or immunocompromised people should never ever be around raw meat? Sorry, no more steaks or chicken dinners if you are a child, elderly, or immunocompromised.

As Dr. Karen Becker says,

If “…bacteria is very difficult to get rid of, even with proper washing of bowls and utensils,” as claimed by Dr. Hughes, why aren’t millions of people across the globe being made ill all day, every day from preparing meals for themselves and their families?

There is also mention of coming into contact with potentially harmful pathogen from the dog or cat's poop. Have you ever scooped the yard or litter box and promptly licked your fingers? Yum! No. I bet the first thing you do is wash your hands because you're aware that poop can harbor dangerous bacteria, and you possibly have exposed yourself to such nasties by getting rid of the poop.


As if the AVMA policy wasn't enough, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) revealed their "Raw Protein Diet Position Statement." You can guess what the reasoning is [bold added].

Based on overwhelming scientific evidence, AAHA does not advocate or endorse feeding pets any raw or dehydrated nonsterilized foods, including treats that are of animal origin.
Homemade raw food diets are unsafe because retail meats for human consumption can be contaminated with pathogens. Studies that have been done on both commercially available and homemade raw protein diets have found a high percentage (30–50%) of them contaminated with pathogenic organisms, and up to 30% of the dogs fed such diets may shed pathogenic organisms in their stool. Many of the pathogens found in raw protein diets can be transmitted to the human population by contact with the food itself, pet or environmental surfaces. A disturbing number of these organisms have also been shown to be resistant to multiple antimicrobials.
Raw protein diets are now demonstrated to be a health risk for several groups, including:

• The pets consuming the diet
• Other animals in contact with these pets or their feces
• Human family members
• The public

People at highest risk of serious disease from the enteric pathogens found in raw diets include those that are very young, old or immune-compromised. These are the very groups that are the focus of most animal-assisted intervention (AAI) programs. It is especially important that therapy pets involved in AAI not be fed raw protein diets.

AAHA is committed to the human community, the veterinary medical profession, our AAHA hospitals and the patients we serve in recommending the best known medical practices using evidence-based medicine. We value the relationships between our pets and their families, along with the positive impact that they have on the larger population, such as in AAI programs. Feeding a raw protein diet no longer concerns only each individual pet, but has become a larger community health issue; for this reason, AAHA can no longer support or advocate the feeding of raw protein diets to pets.

There is a lot of concern from the AVMA and AAHA about raw food diets harming people. How many people have actually become ill or died from feeding a raw diet? Ironically enough, one of the studies the AVMA uses to try to support their argument says no person has ever gotten salmonella from feeding a raw food diet [bold added].

“The increasing popularity of raw food diets for companion animals is another potential pet-associated source of Salmonella organisms; however, no confirmed cases of human salmonellosis have been associated with these diets.”

“To date, there have been no published reports of salmonellosis occurring in dogs as a result of exposure to natural pet treats.”

“To date, there has been only one published report of salmonellosis occurring in cats as a result of exposure to raw food diets. Septicemic salmonellosis was diagnosed in 2 cats that underwent necropsy at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia (Athens, GA).”

“To date, raw pet foods have not been associated with salmonellosis in humans; however, identification of Salmonella contaminated food and Salmonella shedding by pets that have been fed raw food diets should raise concern.”

With all this concern about the public's health, maybe the AVMA and AAHA need to make stances against dry kibble which have time and time again made people sick. From January 1st, 2006 to December 31, 2007 a strain of salmonella infected over 70 people in 19 states. Dry dog food was identified as the source. In June, 2012, the CDC posted their final update about a "Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infantis Infections Linked to Dry Dog Food":

A total of 49 individuals (47 individuals in 20 states and two individuals in Canada) infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis were reported.

• The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (2), Arkansas (2), California (3), Connecticut (2), Georgia (2), Illinois (4), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Missouri (3), New Jersey (2), New York (5), North Carolina (5), Ohio (3), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (3), South Carolina (2), Texas (1), and Virginia (2).
• Among the 24 patients with available information, 10 (42%) were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
• Epidemiologic and laboratory investigations conducted by officials in local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies linked this outbreak to dry dog food produced by Diamond Pet Foods at a single production facility in Gaston, South Carolina.

Yet no person- including children, elderly, and immunocompromised persons- has ever been reported to have gotten salmonella from feeding a raw diet.

Oh and the AVMA and AAHA both failed to state or recognize that both dogs and cats naturally have salmonella in their GI tract.

To look deeper into why these pathogens are *not* a significant risk, see this post by veterinarian Dr. Jean Hofve: "But which, if any, of these organisms presents a real risk to pets, people, or both?"


Perhaps the AVMA and AAHA may have ulterior motives?

The AVMA is sponsored by Hills, and the AAHA is also sponsored by Hills. That is, Hills Science Diet. You know, that food your vet is trying to make you buy or even trick you into getting a "prescription" Hills food. Is that really a big deal for them to be sponsored by pet food companies? Really, it is. They are sponsors. They give to them. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Hills pledged $1 million to AVMA in 2004. The AVMA in 2006, the 3rd year of a 5 year contract with Hills, was bragging about the Hills sponsorship. Then in 2008 when the contract expired, the "AVMA created a four-year “AVMA Platinum Partner Program” with Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The AVMA got more than $1.5 million from Hill’s, in exchange for promotional favoritism. This relationship is a clear conflict of interest with the proposed policy." [source]  Another big sponsor of the AVMA is Purina. You know, that food made by the candy company. No, not Mars which makes Pedigree. The other candy company. Nestle.

It's unclear whether those who had a vote and sit with the AVMA also have interests in pet food sales, as it's increasingly difficult to determine exactly who the people are atop the pet food companies. "Discovering who works for pet food companies has become more difficult since 1994." [source and an excellent, though quite dry, read about the pet food business]. Regardless, the AVMA and AAHA wants to keep their big sponsors happy.

The Delta Society is supported by Purina as well with Purina being "the premier sponsor of Delta Society". Guess who won't allow service animals to be raw fed. A strong link can be made when we see that on the board of directors is "Chair, Brenda Bax, Marketing Director, Purina". Sitting at the top of the board of directors is a woman who works for Purina. In some way I can respect the Delta Society's stance because it is a serious risk for a dog that has just eaten its raw meal to walk into a hospital and lick an immunocompromised patient on the mouth. Oh but wait. A dog that has just eaten kibble can also easily spread salmonella too! Remember all those recalls and sick people from dry dog food?? So we know that's not Purina's real concern.

Both the AVMA and AAHA have no science to support their claims of the pathogens from raw meat posing a threat to people. People handle raw meat all the time and do not get sick because they know the risks and understand how to handle raw meat and clean affected areas. Both the AVMA and AAHA ignore that dry pet foods make people sick. Both organizations clearly have big supporters that are manufacturers of dry pet foods. I think we know what's going on here. Healthy rawfed pets don't need $300 teeth cleanings. They don't need to buy "prescription" food or medications to control their IBS, chronic pancreatitis, allergies, dry skin, tumors, seizures and a host of other problems caused by or agitated by commercial pet foods. Vets are losing money, and so are the makers of commercial pet foods. Maybe they think these official policies will scare people aware from real species appropriate food and onto their corn-based expensive diets specifically designed for my small breed, 9 year old, active, allergy prone, dog with dry skin, and with X and Y conditions. Think again.


Edit: I want to really really stress the importance of being safe when handling raw meat. People do get sick or die from handling or eating raw meat due to the bacteria. No case has been directly linked to feeding raw to pets, but that does not negate the possibility that it could happen. Your veterinarian is good to mention the potential for infection. Raw meat, and processed diets as well as treats, do carry a risk. Please be aware, and be safe!