Are you safely handling your pet’s food and dishes? Study finds most people at risk for illness
Dog kibble in a bowl. (WDIV)
According to a new survey, the majority of dog owners in the United States are unaware of how to correctly handle pet food and dishes, putting them at danger of foodborne illness.
The study, which was published in the journal PLOS One, discovered that 95 percent of more than 400 dog owners were unaware of the FDA's pet food handling recommendations.
Washing your hands before and after handling pet food or treats, preparing dog food on surfaces distinct from those used for human food, and not using the feeding dish as a scoop are just a few of the suggestions.
Food dishes and scoops must also be washed and dried after each usage. Nearly 70 dog food dishes were tested for microorganisms before and after three different sets of food handling instructions were given.
Owners who followed the FDA's food handling rules had less bowl contamination. The following are the guidelines:
Buying pet food advice
- Purchase pet food that is in good shape (cans, pouches, or bags). Look for visible evidence of damage, such as dents, splits, and discolouration, on the packing.
Preparing Pet Food Suggestions
- Clean hands should be used from the start to the finish. Hands should be washed for at least 20 seconds with soap and hot water before and after handling pet food and treats.
- After each usage, wash pet food bowls and scooping equipment with soap and hot water.
- Use a scooping utensil instead of your pet's feeding bowl. Instead, use a clean scoop, spoon, or cup. Only scoop pet food with the scooping utensil.
- Throw of outdated or spoiled pet food in a secure manner, such as in a tightly sealed plastic bag in a covered garbage bin.
Storage ideas for pet food
- Refrigerate or discard any unused or leftover canned or pouched pet food as soon as possible. Refrigerated pet food should be well covered. Set your refrigerator to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
- Dry pet food should be kept in a cool, dry location. The temperature should not exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The nutrients might be broken down by too much heat or moisture.
- Dry pet food should be stored in its original bag, with the top folded down tightly.
- To prevent your pet from consuming the entire amount at once, store pet food in a secure spot.
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