PHAC Warning: Outbreak of Salmonella Infections in Canada Linked to Dog Food, Treats

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Canada is experiencing a multi-province Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak linked to dog food and treats, with 27 laboratory-confirmed cases reported between mid-February and mid-August 2025, including 13 in Alberta, 12 in British Columbia, and cases in Ontario and the Northwest Territories.

While the agency said the 27 illnesses in Alberta, B.C., Ontario and Northwest Territories are connected to dog food and treats, the PHAC has noted that the brand and type has yet to be determined.

The PHAC reports that dog food and treats can be contaminated with bacteria, including salmonella, and can spread through handling the product and touching other things like human food, your face, and other surfaces. Bacteria can also be spread through touching a dog, even if the animal doesn’t show symptoms of salmonella.

To prevent illness, individuals are advised to practice good hand hygiene and frequent handwashing after contact with dogs, their food and treats.

How to protect your health

Dog food and treats can be contaminated with bacteria, including Salmonella, which can make people and dogs sick. You can get sick with Salmonella through contact with a dog, their food or treats. Even if dogs don’t show any signs of illness, they can still infect people who are in contact with them or their environment.

To reduce your risk of becoming ill from contact with a dog, their food or treats, the PHAC recommends:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after handling any type of dog food or treat.
• Teach children to wash their hands thoroughly, with soap and water, every time after touching dogs, their food or treats.
• Wash and sanitize any containers, utensils and surfaces that have come into contact with dog food or treats before using them again. This includes food and water bowls, countertops, microwaves and refrigerators.
• Use dedicated dishes and utensils to serve your dog and wash them separately from other dishes and utensils.
• Store all dog food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and away from reach of young children. Pick up food and treats containers when your pet is done with them.
• Follow storage instructions found on the packaging of dog food and treats, including proper refrigeration and freezing if needed, to prevent them from becoming spoiled.
• Read the labels on dog food and treats to learn about the ingredients, the product’s expiry date, and if the food is cooked or raw. Raw pet food and treats may be fresh, frozen, dehydrated or freeze-dried.
• Wash your hands after contact with a dog and after handling their waste.

People who are infected with Salmonella bacteria can spread Salmonella to other people several days to several weeks after they have become infected, even if they don’t have symptoms.