For a good diet and the right nutrition, your dog depends on you. So it's important that you pay special attention to the quality and freshness of the food you provide. After all, food poisoning does occur in dogs.
 
Illness from manufactured pet food, however, is very rare thanks to stringent quality assurance and safety checks throughout the manufacturing process. However, it's always best to check the 'Use by' date to ensure maximum freshness. You do it for yourself when out shopping, so why not for your dog too?

Starting with the selection of raw ingredients right through to warehousing and delivery, the manufacture of pet food is closely monitored every step of the way.  Processes, additives, ingredients and product safety are all regulated by detailed protocols and regulations of the European Union.

Cooking
Regulated and automated, the cooking process is designed to eliminate bacteria and moulds.

• Cans and pouches are cooked by sealed-in pressure cooking.
• Dry foods are extruded (flash cooking a dough at high pressure) or baked.
• Finished products are segregated from the incoming raw materials to prevent cross-contamination.

Packaging

• Canned foods are sealed to prevent any further contact with external micro-organisms or exposure to oxygen which could cause spoilage.
• Lacquered linings for cans and the foil of pouches prevent the food from interacting with the metal.
• Dry foods remain fresh over many months because bacteria can't grow and spoil food when moisture levels are low.
• Dry food packaging and the fatty coating of biscuits help prevent the entry of moisture and oxygen that can cause food spoilage during storage.
• Once opened, store dry foods covered in a cool dry place. Do not store moistened dry foods as moulds may grow, which can harm your pet.

Ingredient selection and quality
Every ingredient used in commercially-produced food must have a specification sheet requiring suppliers to meet established levels of quality. Suppliers use standardised analytical techniques to ensure ingredients conform to EU regulations and are free of, or meet the minimal safe levels of, toxins and metals, as well as offering the correct nutrient content. Fallen animals or spoiled cereals are excluded from pet foods, as are certain organs like brain, spleen and spinal chord. Meats are delivered to factories frozen or chilled to ensure quality. And any additives used have to conform to EU regulations and be certified as safe.

Food safety at home

Storage - Dry food should be stored in an airtight container, which keeps it tasty by sealing in aromas and keeping out bugs. You can leave a serving of dry food in the bowl, as it won't spoil - but beware of attracting ants and rodents. Cover and store canned food in the fridge to keep it fresh. Also, avoid leaving it out as wet food will go stale and attract flies.

Feeding - Place your dog's bowl on a surface that is easy to clean, like a tiled floor or a mat. Feeding bowls should be made from metal (easy to clean), ceramic (not easily knocked over) or plastic (although these might get chewed and the teeth marks can harbour germs).

Food safety is about good feeding practice as well as hygiene. For example, don't exercise your dog an hour before or an hour after feeding. Some dogs eat their food too quickly and are prone to choking, so raising their feed bowl and choosing a dry food that has larger pieces can help.