Bacteria In Raw Dog Food: Unpacking The Reality

If you’ve explored raw feeding, chances are you’ve come across the dramatic headlines. Salmonella. E. coli. Campylobacter, Listeria. All too often, these names are rolled out as scare tactics, painted as reasons to steer clear of a natural diet and leaving dog owners feeling fearful or guilty about wanting the best for their pets.

But here’s the truth: bacteria are everywhere. They live in your mouth, on your skin, on shopping trolleys, in soil, and in the puddles your dog splashes through daily. Raw feeding often gets unfairly singled out when it’s just one small part of a much bigger picture. In the wild, dogs survive by catching prey and consuming raw meat; it’s their natural diet and how they’ve thrived for thousands of years.

We’re the only species that routinely cooks its food; for wolves and wild dogs, processed diets simply don’t exist. And despite centuries of domestication, the pet dog snoozing on your sofa is still biologically the same species; their digestive system, teeth, and nutritional needs remain fundamentally unchanged from their wild ancestors.

In this article, Alison Frost, Lead Canine Nutritionist at ProDog, tackles the common myths around bacteria and raw feeding and explores the science, veterinary insights, and real experiences of dog owners, with expert contributions from Dr Nick Thompson, Holistic Vet.

Raw dog food myths are aplenty and at ProDog, it will be no surprise to discover that we hear them on a regular basis. Myths include:

• Raw food is harmful to you, when being prepared and served
  Fact: Preparing raw dog food is no riskier than preparing raw chicken or beef for your family. Simple hygiene practices like handwashing and cleaning surfaces are all that’s needed.
• Dogs are at risk of becoming ill from consuming harmful bacteria
  Fact: Dogs are biologically designed with powerful natural defence systems, including antibacterial saliva, highly acidic stomachs that neutralise pathogens [1], and short digestive tracts that remove pathogens before they get chance to take hold.
• Stroking a raw-fed dog can transfer bacteria to humans
  Fact: Harmful bacteria like Salmonella are only spread through faeces, not saliva or fur. Everyday items like coins or trolley handles carry far more risk.
• Raw food is more dangerous than kibble
  Fact: Processed foods aren’t immune. Kibble and canned food have also been linked to Salmonella and E. coli contamination. [2]
• Raw feeding is unsafe for families with children
  Fact: Studies show risk of infection from raw-fed pet s to humans is extremely low — far less than the risk of children passing bugs to each other. [3]
• All bacteria are bad
  Fact: Good bacteria (often referred to as beneficial or probiotic bacteria) are essential for both dogs and humans, helping with digestion and defending against harmful bugs.
• Raw food contains parasites like tapeworms and toxoplasma
  Fact: Dogs are far more likely to pick up tapeworms from fleas than from raw food. At ProDog, all our meals are blast-frozen to eliminate potential parasites, ensuring your dog’s food is safe as well as naturally nutritious.

Of course, these myths are just that, and raw dog food benefits cannot be overlooked!

Like all fresh meat, raw dog food can contain naturally occurring bacteria. That’s not unusual or inherently dangerous — it’s exactly the same as the raw chicken, beef, or fish you might prepare for your own dinner. The important thing is context: what type of bacteria are we talking about, how common are they, and how much of a real-world risk do they pose?

Salmonella

Salmonella is often the first word critics throw around when dismissing raw feeding. It’s true that this bacterium can cause illness, but the risk in responsibly sourced raw dog food is far lower than scare stories suggest. As a DEFRA-approved supplier, at ProDog, we batch-test food to ensure Salmonella levels are safe.

And let’s not forget: Salmonella has also been repeatedly linked to dry dog food recalls, meaning kibble isn’t automatically a “safer” option. [4,5,6]

E. coli

E. coli is everywhere: in soil, on surfaces, and in the guts of both humans and animals. Most strains are harmless and even play a role in healthy digestion. The concern comes from specific pathogenic strains (like E. coli O157), which can be dangerous in high concentrations. Again, responsible sourcing and stringent testing reduce this risk.

Listeria

Listeria is rare but can crop up in many fresh foods, from pre-washed salad leaves to deli meats and even ice cream. While it can be harmful in vulnerable people, the risk for dogs fed DEFRA-regulated raw food is very low. Manufacturers like ProDog use freezing and strict handling processes that further limit its presence.

Campylobacter

Campylobacter is one of the most common foodborne bacteria worldwide, and it’s not limited to raw meat, it’s found across both raw and cooked food supply chains. Dogs often encounter it naturally in the environment, from puddles to other animals. In healthy pets, the digestive system is well-equipped to handle exposure, which is why infections are extremely rare.

The Bigger Picture

Finding bacteria in raw meat isn’t unusual, it’s natural. Dogs are also biologically equipped to handle bacteria. The key difference comes down to standards and safety practices. ProDog uses human-quality meat, follows strict DEFRA regulations, and batch-tests every product before it reaches your dog’s bowl. Pair that with simple hygiene at home, washing hands, cleaning bowls, storing food properly, and the risks are extremely low.

Bacteria don’t just exist in raw dog food, they’re found across the entire food chain. Here’s how raw stacks up against kibble and even the foods you eat yourself:

What This Shows 

Raw dog food is not uniquely risky. In fact, it’s managed under strict controls. Just like with your own food, the key is sourcing from reputable suppliers and practising good hygiene at home. 

Dr Nick Thompson, founding president of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society, has long challenged the way raw feeding risks are presented.

“Critics often cite a 2013 Tufts University review — part-funded by Hills Pet Foods — that highlighted bacteria in raw diets [9],” he says. “But what’s usually missing is the context. Yes, raw meat contains bacteria because it hasn’t been denatured by heat. That’s the point. Dogs are built to handle it. And the actual risk is vanishingly low. If raw food were really as dangerous as some suggest, we’d be seeing headlines every day about thousands of dogs falling ill. We don’t. Millions of dogs eat raw daily without incident.”

He points to further research to back this up:

“A 2019 University of Helsinki study looked at more than 16,000 raw-fed households. Across over 90,000 feeding events, they found just three possible cases of bacteria passing from dog to human [10]. That’s 0.02% — and even then, the link to raw food wasn’t conclusive. Put simply, the evidence just doesn’t stack up with the scare stories.”

Consider where your dog spends its day:

• Sniffing poo and licking other dogs.
• Walking through faeces, urine, or rotting leaves.
• Cleaning their paws and grooming themselves afterwards.

This daily exposure dwarfs the low bacterial levels found in responsibly prepared raw food. And remember: kibble isn’t without risk.

The basics of food safety are enough:

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw food.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and utensils.
• Wash your dog’s bowls after every meal.
• Store meals in sealed containers at the bottom of the fridge.
• Defrost food in the fridge, not on the counter.

Handled properly, raw dog food is no riskier than preparing a Sunday roast.

According to Dr Nick Thompson, the answer lies in canine biology.

For healthy adults, there is no additional risk in living with a raw-fed dog. Extra care should be taken with young children, the elderly, or immunocompromised people — but the same applies when handling raw meat for human meals.

Not all raw dog food is created equal. To protect your dog and your family, look for:

• DEFRA registration – ensures every batch is tested.
• Human-grade meat – sourced from reputable UK farms.
• Safety procedures- blast frozen to ensure safety, eliminate potential pathogens and preserve nutrient integrity.
• Ethical sourcing – high animal welfare standards.
• Clear labelling – full ingredients and ratios listed.

Discover how ProDog meets all of these standards, with every single batch tested before leaving our production facilities. We’d invite you in particular to visit the ‘quality first’ section.

The short answer to the question “is raw dog food safe?” is overwhelmingly ‘yes’. While bacteria in raw dog food exists, the risks are often overstated, and the scare stories don’t reflect the real-world evidence.

When responsibly sourced, stored, and handled with basic hygiene, raw feeding is not just safe, it’s one of the healthiest choices you can make for your dog.

So, when it comes to the question “is raw dog food safe?” the answer is with proper sourcing and expert guidance, the raw dog food benefits far outweigh the fears, supporting your dog’s digestion, immunity, and long-term wellbeing.

Get expert advice – Contact Alison Frost, our Lead Canine Nutritionist, for tailored support on weight, supplements, and nutrition planning.

Shop with confidence – Explore ProDog’s DEFRA-approved raw dog food meals today.