Czech Republic recalls raw BARF food for dogs and cats from Germany: too many enterobacteria in two goose products — what to do if you already have it at home

What happened

On 29 October 2026 the Czech State Veterinary Administration (SVS) issued a warning to dog and cat owners. It concerns raw food of the type known as BARF — a diet of raw meat, offal and bones. Tests at the State Veterinary Institute showed that two products from one German manufacturer contained more enterobacteria than permitted.

The authority advises owners who already have this food at home not to give it to their pets and to return it to the seller or manufacturer. A recall of the packs already sold is under way.

Which foods are affected

Both products come from PAEX GmbH of Ellingstedt, Germany, which also trades under the Pansen Express brand.

1. "Husa komplet 500 g / Gans Komplett 500 g" — goose, Baron.cz brand, batch 07/28/E313, best before 07/28.
2. "Paex-Menü BARF Gans" — BARF goose menu, Paex brand, batch 07/27D362, best before 07/27.

If you have food with these details in your freezer, check the batch number on the pack. Other batches aren't mentioned in the warning.

How much food has been sold

The German manufacturer shipped 768 packs of the first product to the Czech Republic. The Czech company Baron s.r.o. of Ústí nad Labem, which sells this batch under its own brand, held back 647 packs in its warehouse. Another 121 packs had already gone to customers or shops and are now being recalled. For the second product, the authority is still finding out where and how much was sold.

What to do if you already have the food at home

The authority advises:

1. Don't give the food to your dog or cat.
2. Return it to the seller or manufacturer.
3. If it's already been defrosted, don't keep it in the fridge next to food for people.
4. Wash your hands, bowls, boards and knives that came into contact with it.

If your pet has already eaten the food and seems fine, it's enough to keep an eye on them for a few days. If signs of illness appear, see your vet and say which food your pet ate.

Can you simply cook the food

The authority does allow this option: the food can be cooked and then fed, because cooking kills the bacteria. But hygiene during preparation is important, and afterwards dishes, boards and surfaces that touched the raw food must be thoroughly washed. For most owners it's simpler and safer to return the pack to the seller. Bear in mind too that cooked food is no longer BARF: cooking changes its composition, and heat makes bones brittle and dangerous, so cooked food with bones must not be given to dogs or cats.

What enterobacteria are

Enterobacteria are a large group of bacteria that mainly live in the gut of animals and people. They include both harmless gut residents and disease-causing bacteria such as salmonella and pathogenic E. coli. In food and feed, enterobacteria are treated as a hygiene indicator: if there are many, something went wrong during production or storage.

That's how the authority describes it too: a high level of enterobacteria points to poor production hygiene or incorrect storage conditions. In raw food, bacteria can multiply very quickly after thawing.

Why raw food is especially vulnerable

Ready-made dry or tinned food goes through heating, which kills most bacteria. Raw BARF food isn't treated this way: it's raw meat, and whatever is in it ends up in the bowl. That's why the EU has separate microbiological requirements for raw foods, and manufacturers must test their products regularly.

The risk rises if food sits defrosted for a long time, is thawed at room temperature, or leftovers are fed after sitting in the bowl for several hours.

The same applies to home-made BARF put together by owners from shop-bought meat and offal. Meat for people isn't sterile either: it's intended to be cooked. So with a raw diet, freshness, freezer storage, thawing in the fridge and a clean kitchen are especially important.

What the EU requires for raw food

The European Union sets microbiological limits for raw pet food. Five samples are taken from each batch tested. There must be no salmonella in any 25-gram sample. A small amount of enterobacteria is allowed: no more than 10 bacteria per gram in three of the five samples, and more in the other two, but not above 5,000 per gram. If even one sample exceeds the upper limit, or too many samples are raised, the batch is considered non-compliant.

These limits exist not because every enterobacterium is dangerous, but because their number shows how cleanly the plant was working and how well the product was stored. When a limit is exceeded, the authority doesn't wait for someone to fall ill: it stops sales immediately.

How to check your pack

The batch number and best-before date are usually printed on the label or the edge of the bag, sometimes on a sticker. Compare them with the details in the warning: batch 07/28/E313 for Baron.cz goose and batch 07/27D362 for the Paex menu. If the numbers don't match, this recall doesn't affect your food. If the label has worn off or you've moved the food to another container, don't take a chance: ask the seller which batch they sold you.

Why this is a risk for dogs and cats

Many enterobacteria don't cause disease themselves, but they include bacteria that can cause acute gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The authority specifically names at-risk groups:

• puppies and kittens, whose immune systems aren't fully developed;
• pregnant and nursing females;
• elderly animals;
• sick animals, especially those with chronic disease or on treatment that weakens immunity.

Signs to watch for

According to the authority, a gut infection in dogs and cats can cause:

• watery or bloody diarrhoea;
• vomiting;
• abdominal pain — your pet hunches up and won't let you touch their belly;
• lethargy and refusing food;
• dehydration — dry gums, sunken eyes, and skin that's slow to flatten after being pinched into a fold.

Dehydration is especially dangerous in puppies and kittens: they can become unwell within a few hours. Don't give your pet human diarrhoea medicine without asking your vet: some are unsuitable for animals, and the priority in a gut infection is to replace lost fluids.

Is there a risk to people

Yes, the authority warns that handling this food can be risky for owners too. Bacteria from raw meat get onto hands, boards, the sink and bowls. Families with young children, pregnant women, elderly people and people with weakened immunity should be especially careful. Simple rules: wash your hands after handling the food, don't prepare it on the same boards as family meals and wash bowls in hot water.

How to feed raw food safely

If you feed your dog or cat raw food, a few rules reduce the risk with any brand:

1. Thaw food in the fridge, not on the worktop.
2. Serve a portion straight away and remove leftovers after 20–30 minutes.
3. Don't keep defrosted food longer than the manufacturer advises.
4. Use separate boards and knives for pet food.
5. Wash bowls after every meal.
6. Buy from reliable sellers who store the food frozen.

If you have a puppy, kitten, pregnant female or sick animal at home, ask your vet whether a raw diet is suitable at all.

What owners in other countries need to know

The manufacturer is based in Germany, and raw foods are often sold through online shops in different countries. The second product, "Paex-Menü BARF Gans", is sold under the manufacturer's own brand, and the Czech authority is still finding out where it was supplied. If you've bought Paex goose BARF food, check the batch number. In the UK you can report problems with pet food to your local Trading Standards service.

When to see a vet

If your dog or cat develops diarrhoea, especially with blood, vomiting, lethargy, refuses food or shows signs of dehydration after eating raw food, see your vet. Don't wait if the patient is a puppy, kitten, elderly or chronically ill animal. Be sure to tell the vet which food you gave, and keep the pack with the batch number if you can.