Farm Pets and Food Safety

Even though we have great affection for our farm pets, when it comes to food safety we have to realize they can be an issue. Both farm cats and dogs are carriers of pathogens and parasites and can pass those on when in contact with food products. For example, many farm cats eat rodents which can contaminate their feces with pathogens and parasites and their cleaning habits keep the cycle of pathogens moving through their bodies. If you produce ready to eat food products farm cats must be prevented from walking on such particularly when food products are in storage. Farm dogs can also present food safety issues as they can pick up pathogens when walking through the barn or from eating things like calf manure. Dogs that eliminate their waste in field production areas present a food safety risk as it can then contaminate produce it lands on or be stepped on by workers and tracked about the area further spreading the pathogens. So if you are concerned about marketing safe fresh farm produce, keep farm pets out of the areas where you grow, process, store and sell your produce.