Salmonella in Dog Treats: What the Stiftung Warentest Study Shows and How to Protect Yourself
By Kathrin | Updated October 2026
The chew is unwrapped, the dog is happily chewing, and you reach for your phone or a slice of bread. That exact moment is what the January 2026 test by Stiftung Warentest, the German consumer testing organisation, is really about. Salmonella in dog treats is rarely a problem for the dog – but it can be one for the people who live with it.
In short: Salmonella in dog treats are bacteria that can occur above all in dried chews made from animal raw materials. In January 2026, Stiftung Warentest detected them in 4 of 20 tested chews. Healthy adult dogs usually cope with them, but the risk is higher for toddlers, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Simple rules such as washing your hands after feeding and using separate tools are usually enough in everyday life.
What the test found in dog treats
Stiftung Warentest examined 20 dried chews, four each from five groups: chicken hearts, rabbit ears, beef tripe, beef scalp and pig ears. All products consist of a single ingredient. The results were published on 26 January 2026.
The key findings:
- Salmonella in 4 of 20 products. One supplier then recalled a batch.
- Rancid fat in several products. The testers smelled it, and the lab confirmed advanced fat spoilage. According to Warentest, rancid fat can put a strain on the dog's liver.
- Lots of calories: A single piece of beef scalp or pig ear can cover more than a third of the daily requirement of a 15-kilo dog.
- Missing advice: Almost half of the products lacked the note that the main meal should be reduced accordingly.
- Chromium: Two products contained elevated levels of chromium(III). The testers suspect contamination, for example via equipment also used for tanning leather.
Many people are surprised that dried single-ingredient products are affected. "One ingredient" says something about the composition, but nothing about hygiene. Both have to be right.
Why salmonella in dog treats is mainly an issue for people
Salmonella are bacteria that can cause diarrhoea, nausea and fever in humans. According to Warentest, healthy adult dogs usually cope with them and often show no symptoms. That is exactly what makes the topic tricky: the dog is fine, so nobody thinks about germs.
A dog that has ingested salmonella can shed them over a longer period. According to Stiftung Warentest, pathogens can still be transmitted via saliva weeks after feeding. The route to humans then runs via hands, the face, bowls, blankets and dog beds.
Then there is direct contact with the treat itself. Anyone who takes a chew out of the pack, cuts it up or takes it out of the dog's mouth has the bacteria on their fingers afterwards. That is no reason to panic, but it is a reason to wash your hands.
For most healthy adults, a salmonella infection is mild. It is different for people whose immune system is not yet mature or is weakened. That is why it is worth taking a closer look at who in the household comes into contact with the dog and its treats.
Who in the household should take particular care
Not every household needs the same rules. The following overview helps you judge how strict you should be.
| Who lives in the household? | Risk from salmonella | What makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy adults | Rather low | Wash hands after feeding, store treats separately from food |
| Toddlers | Increased | Treats and leftovers out of reach, dog blanket and bed are not a playground |
| Pregnant women | Increased | Have someone else feed treats if possible, or use disposable gloves |
| Older people | Increased | Wash hands consistently, don't let the dog lick your face |
| People with weakened immune systems | Increased | Follow all rules consistently, seek medical advice if unsure |
| Puppies, old or sick dogs | Increased for the dog itself | See the vet in case of diarrhoea, vomiting or fever |
In my view, nobody has to ban chews from the household because there is a toddler. But then they don't belong on the living room carpet where someone is crawling around. A fixed chewing spot that is easy to clean solves a large part of the problem.
Salmonella in dog treats: why drying alone is not enough
Many people assume that dried products are automatically low in germs. That is only half true. Salmonella can hardly multiply in dry foods. But they can survive there for a long time, and in a dry state they become much more heat-resistant.
How big this difference is is shown by data from the British food research institute Campden BRI: for the same killing effect, 27 seconds at 60 °C were enough in minced meat. In wheat flour it took 14.6 hours at 62 °C. So dry does not mean safe – for now it only means: long-lasting.
EU law takes this into account. Under Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, dog chews must be treated in a way that kills pathogens, including salmonella. For processed pet food that is not canned, the regulation specifies heat treatment of at least 90 °C. In sampling, no salmonella may be detectable in five samples of 25 grams each. In addition, renewed contamination after treatment must be prevented.
I don't believe in presenting heat treatment as a flaw, as if it made a treat "less natural". With animal raw materials, it is the step that turns a hygiene risk into food for the dog. Our treats are dried with air at 100 °C; the wild boar products are dried at around 40 °C and then pasteurised at 100 °C. Why heat is decisive for wild boar in particular is explained in the article Wild boar for dogs.
Even so, no animal product comes with a guarantee of being completely germ-free. That is why the hygiene rules below apply to every treat, including ours.
Hygiene with dog treats: 8 rules for everyday life
Most of these rules come from the recommendations of Stiftung Warentest. They take little time and noticeably reduce the risk.
- Wash your hands. Every time you have touched a treat – starting when you unpack it. Alternatively use disposable gloves.
- Don't cut treats in the kitchen. Cut large chews outside if possible, or at least well away from work surfaces and food.
- Separate tools. Use garden or poultry shears for cutting that are used for nothing else.
- Store separately. Don't keep treats next to food or kitchen utensils, but in their own sealable container.
- Clean bowls after every use. Wash food and water bowls separately from your dishes. Change the drinking water regularly.
- Clear away leftovers. Dispose of half-chewed leftovers the dog leaves lying around promptly, so children can't get at them.
- Wash blankets hot. According to Warentest, wash the dog blanket and bed weekly at at least 60 °C.
- No licking of faces. Don't let the dog lick your face or open wounds. The pathogens can still be in the saliva weeks after feeding.
Warentest also advises against letting dogs into your bed. Whether you are that strict is your decision. If toddlers, pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems live in the household, I would take the recommendation seriously.
What the test shows about fat and calories
Salmonella was the most striking result, but not the only one. Rancid fat is an underestimated issue with dried chews. Fat oxidises over time, especially with warmth, light and contact with air.
For everyday life this means:
- Store treats cool, dry and away from light, and close packs well after opening.
- Briefly smell treats before feeding. If a treat smells musty, sharp or like old oil, it belongs in the bin.
- Don't buy supplies for a whole year. Smaller quantities that are used up quickly are better.
And then there are the calories. A large chew quickly provides as much energy as part of the main meal. If chews are fed regularly, the food quantity has to go down. How to calculate that is explained in the article How many treats per day are okay. What chews can and cannot do for teeth is explained in the article on chews and dental care.
How to tell how a treat was processed when buying
You can't see salmonella in dog treats in the shop. But you can check whether the manufacturer is open about its processing.
- Processing stated? Dried, heated, pasteurised, at what temperature? If it isn't stated anywhere, ask. A serious answer should not be a problem.
- Feeding recommendation provided? A note to reduce the main meal and an indication of the suitable dog size show that someone has thought about it.
- Analytical constituents complete? Crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and crude ash must be stated. The fat content shows you how energy-rich a treat is.
- Pack intact and resealable? Don't buy damaged packs, and close opened ones well.
- Smell when opening? A dried treat smells of the animal it is made from. Rancid or musty is a warning sign.
With raw treats or raw feeding, the hygiene risk is fundamentally higher than with heat-treated products. What that means for BARF feeding is explained in the article on BARF treats.
Frequently asked questions about salmonella in dog treats
Can I catch salmonella from dog treats?
Yes, that is possible. The route is usually via your hands after touching a contaminated treat, or via the dog's saliva. Washing your hands after feeding noticeably reduces the risk.
Will my dog get sick from salmonella?
Healthy adult dogs usually show no symptoms. Puppies, old or sick dogs, however, can develop diarrhoea, vomiting or fever. In that case, the dog should see the vet.
Which dog treats in the Warentest test contained salmonella?
Stiftung Warentest found salmonella in 4 of 20 dried chews. Chicken hearts, rabbit ears, beef tripe, beef scalp and pig ears were tested. The exact products and ratings are in the paid test report on test.de.
Are dried dog treats free of germs?
Not automatically. Salmonella can hardly multiply in dry products, but they can survive for a long time. What matters is whether and how the treat was heat-treated and whether renewed contamination is prevented afterwards.
How do I store dog treats properly?
Cool, dry and away from light, in their own sealable container and not next to food. Close opened packs well and use them up quickly. If a treat smells rancid, throw it away.
Can my dog come into bed after a chew?
Stiftung Warentest generally advises against taking dogs into bed, because pathogens can still be in the saliva weeks after feeding. If toddlers, pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems live in the household, a separate sleeping place for the dog is the safer choice.
Do I have to stop giving dog treats because of salmonella?
No. With simple hygiene rules, the risk can be managed well in everyday life. More important than going without is paying attention to traceable processing when buying and washing your hands after feeding.
Every treat in our chews range is heat-treated, and how we process is set out openly in the Snackology. Washing your hands after feeding still applies with us too.
Sources and further reading
- Stiftung Warentest (26 Jan 2026): press release "Hundesnacks: Naschen mit Risiko" (20 chews, salmonella in 4 products, risk groups, calories, rancid fat, chromium)
- Stiftung Warentest (2026): dog treats test, section "Hygieneregeln zum Schutz vor Salmonellen und anderen Keimen"
- Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, Annex XIII Chapter II: requirements for pet food and dog chews (killing of pathogens including salmonella, heat treatment of at least 90 °C, salmonella criterion)
- Campden BRI: Salmonella in dry foods (survival and heat resistance of salmonella in dry foods)
Kathrin is the founder of Dogvanture and writes here about nutrition, behaviour and everyday life with dogs – clear, direct, without jargon. This article does not replace veterinary or medical advice.