Growth and survival of Listeria in pet foods
Official title: Investigate the growth, survival and distribution of Listeria monocytogenes in pet food
Funded at South Dakota State University · NIH-11527737 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes grows and survives in different types of pet foods to understand risks to pets and people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | South Dakota State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brookings, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $75,000 |
| NIH project number | 1U18FD008912-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11527737 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pets on or owners using raw meat-based or conventionally processed pet foods and interested in food safety information.
✕Less likely to help
Pet owners not using RMBDs may see limited direct benefit, though broader food-safety insights could still be informative.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will test several strains of Listeria in different commercial pet foods to see how quickly the bacteria grows under real-world conditions. The project also plans a survey of pet foods to measure how often Listeria is present and at what levels. Results could help pet owners choose safer options and inform guidelines for handling RMBD diets. The study involves laboratory experiments and testing of products that are available to the public. The goal is to fill gaps in knowledge about food safety for pets and their households.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of contamination risks could lead to safer pet foods and reduced exposure for both pets and humans.
How similar studies have gone: There is limited published data on Listeria behavior in pet foods; this project addresses gaps with new data.
Where this research is happening
-
South Dakota State University
Brookings, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmitz-Esser, Stephan — South Dakota State University
- Study coordinator: Schmitz-Esser, Stephan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.