The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a civil lawsuit against Arrow Reliance Inc., known as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, after pathogenic bacteria were allegedly found in its pet food products. The complaint was filed on August 7 against the company and its owner, Gary Tashjian.
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According to the allegations, the defendants violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by failing to adhere to preventive control requirements, resulting in the contamination of their uncooked pet food. The FDA purportedly identified various pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella and E. coli, in samples of Darwin’s products from 2017 to 2025. The complaint also asserts that these products have repeatedly caused consumer infections.
The DOJ seeks an injunction to mandate sanitation improvements at the company and enforce compliance with preventive control measures before manufacturing any additional pet food. Tashjian responded to the allegations, stating that the company strongly disputes the claims and intends to defend its practices, emphasizing their commitment to FDA food safety requirements and the well-being of pets.