On Aug. 7, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit seeking to permanently stop Tukwila-based Arrow Reliance Inc., which does business as Darwin's Natural Pet Products, from producing and selling pet food.
Regulators said its uncooked products were repeatedly contaminated with dangerous bacteria, including one case linked to a 4-year-old child's serious E. coli infection, KIRO 7 reported.
Here's what to know
According to a civil complaint cited by KIRO 7, Arrow Reliance Inc. and its owner, Gary T. Tashjian, are accused of violating federal law for failing to implement required food safety measures, leaving uncooked pet food "adulterated."
Food and Drug Administration investigators said they found Salmonella inside the company's Tukwila facility during a 2024 inspection.
The agency also says testing of finished pet food collected from 2017 to 2025 detected Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
Officials also say the company's products were linked to illnesses.
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In 2024, a 4-year-old child developed an E. coli infection and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome after exposure to pet food the family fed to its dog.
Independent testing on unopened packages from the home found both Salmonella and E. coli.
More background
Contaminated pet food can affect more than just animals.
People often handle pet food directly, touch feeding bowls, or come into contact with pets after they eat, creating a pathway for bacteria to spread throughout a home.
As KIRO 7 noted, these bacteria may cause diarrhea and vomiting in otherwise healthy adults.
But for pregnant people, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals, those infections may lead to serious complications or even death.
Listeria exposure can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths.
What's being done?
In the lawsuit, the DOJ is seeking a permanent court order to stop Arrow Reliance and Tashjian from making or distributing pet food until sanitation problems are corrected and federal safety requirements are met.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Civil Division, said the government plans to keep pursuing companies that put consumers at risk through unsanitary operations.
The FDA also said the legal action followed multiple warnings that went unaddressed.
"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 Dr. Timothy Schell, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.
"Despite repeated FDA warnings, this company continues to manufacture and distribute products contaminated with harmful bacteria."
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