A lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to halt the alleged repeated bacterial contamination of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products.
Routine testing documented that out of Darwin’s 18 most recent raw pet food samples collected by FDA investigators between 2023 and 2025, 12 were positive for dangerous foodborne pathogens.
Salmonella and Listeria pose public health risks to both animals and humans who handle the food or come into contact with pets, according to the Aug. 7 complaint.
“Every American pet owner deserves confidence that the food they feed their animals is safe and will not pose health risks to their families,” said Timothy Schell, Ph.D., director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine in the press release. “Despite repeated FDA warnings, this company continues to manufacture and distribute products contaminated with harmful bacteria. When a company does not take responsibility for product safety, FDA will intervene to protect public health.”
The lawsuit follows multiple reports of consumer illness and names Gary Tashjian and Arrow Reliance d/b/a Darwin's Natural Pet Products as defendants.
Between 2016 and January 2026, the FDA received 49 consumer complaints involving pets that fell ill after eating Darwin’s raw food products, according to the court filing.
The 49 consumer complaints and 12 positive samples reported 34 sick dogs, 35 sick cats, five canine deaths, and four feline deaths and are included within the complaint as evidence.
Darwin’s has been the subject of multiple warning letters and formal recall requests from federal regulators over several years; however, the lawsuit accuses the company of continuing to produce and ship adulterated raw pet food across state lines.
The DOJ wants the company stop all manufacturing and distribution from the company’s Washington facility until it is federally compliant with safety regulations.