Personal Note: I personally know several people who have contracted tularemia, confirmed by the CDC to have been exposed to the bacteria while working at a pet food plant (from rendered pet food ingredients). Due to this experience with the disease, I have a more than an average concern when tularemia cases are reported publicly.
Minnesota Department of Health stated the following in a press release dated July 24, 2025:
“It’s important for pet owners to be aware of this disease in their pets, because it is possible for a person to become infected as well,” said Maria Bye, senior epidemiologist in the Zoonotic Diseases Unit at MDH.
The disease: tularemia.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) “are tracking an increase of tularemia cases in humans and companion animals (especially cats) across Minnesota.” The state is reporting 5 cases of tularemia in humans so far this year (2025), but they did not disclose how many pets have been diagnosed this year.
In 2024, the state of Minnesota had a total of 5 human illnesses and 27 animal illnesses reported. “Twenty-one animal cases were in domestic cats, five in domestic dogs, and one in a wild rabbit.”
The Minnesota press release states: “Tularemia is a potentially serious illness of animals and people and occurs naturally in Minnesota. It is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which can be found in wildlife, particularly rabbits, squirrels, beavers, muskrats and other rodents. Pets are most often exposed to tularemia by hunting these animals but can also be exposed through tick or fly bites. Although many animals can be affected by tularemia, cats that spend time outdoors are at an increased risk.”
But…
My personal experience proves there is another possible exposure to tularemia that is being ignored by the medical community and the pet food regulatory community…rendered sick animals into pet food ingredients. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed to multiple pet food manufacturing employees their exposure to tularemia was rendered pet food ingredients at the pet food plant.
Despite the FDA being fully aware that multiple pet food manufacturing employees were exposed to and sickened by tularemia from pet food ingredients, the agency still allows sick animals, dead/non-slaughtered animals with unknown illnesses to be rendered into pet food ingredients and sold to pet owners with no warning or disclosure.
We have petitioned the FDA in the past regarding their allowance of diseased/sick animals processed as pet food ingredients. The FDA’s response:
“We do not believe that the use of diseased animals or animals that died otherwise than by slaughter to make animal food poses a safety concern and we intend to continue to exercise enforcement discretion.”
We have asked FDA for their science that evidences the agency’s “belief” that pet food ingredients sourced from diseased animals are safe for pets to consume. Their response to our request for scientific evidence: “we could not find the requested documents.”
We filed another Citizen Petition with FDA in June 2022 – based on requirements of federal law – to require disclosure on pet food labels when ingredients are feed grade (potential to be of inferior quality including sourced from diseased animals). Three years later, the FDA has not responded to our petition.
We assume the medical community that monitors tularemia – just like so many pet owners – has no knowledge that the FDA allows diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter to be (illegally) processed as pet food ingredients. We assume the medical community is completely unaware that rendered pet food ingredients have been responsible for human tularemia illnesses in the past.
We sent an email to Minnesota Board of Animal Health urging the agency to trace the pet foods consumed by diagnosed animals. It is unknown if the agency will take our advice.
While we wait for someone of authority to do the right thing (such as enforce federal law, properly inform pet food consumers to what they are purchasing, and properly trace tularemia cases), please be aware of the symptoms of tularemia.
Symptoms in pets: “Signs of illness in animals include a high fever, weakness, lack of appetite, skin or mouth ulcers and swollen lymph nodes.”
Symptoms in humans: “All forms of tularemia in humans are accompanied by a sudden onset of fever. Other signs and symptoms can include skin wounds or ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, chills, joint and muscle pain and nausea. Symptoms in people generally appear three to five days after exposure but may occur as soon as the next day or up to 14 days after exposure.”
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
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