The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Arrow Reliance, Inc., doing business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, and its founder and CEO Gary Tashjian, seeking to force the company to stop manufacturing and selling raw pet food until it complies with food safety standards.
FDA testing found that 12 of 18 recent samples (two-thirds) contained pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria monocytogenes. The lawsuit cites repeated contamination incidents over the past decade and notes that raw pet food is not cooked or prepared in ways that could kill pathogens, creating risk for both pets and humans in the household.
The DOJ cited a 2024 case where a four-year-old child contracted a STEC infection and developed hemolytic uremic syndrome after the family’s dog was fed Darwin’s food. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine Director Timothy Schell stated: “Despite repeated FDA warnings, this company continues to manufacture and distribute products contaminated with harmful bacteria. When a company does not take responsibility for product safety, FDA will intervene to protect public health.”
The lawsuit asks the court to bar Arrow Reliance from making or selling pet foods until it implements sanitation improvements and complies with preventative controls regulations under the Food Safety Modernization Act. The company’s CEO disputed the FDA’s claims and pledged to vigorously defend the business. This is the most significant regulatory enforcement action against a raw pet food manufacturer to date, signaling escalating scrutiny of the raw and freeze-dried pet food category.
