U.S. Department of Justice Files Complaint Against Washington Pet Food Manufacturer
(Washington, D.C. = Alex Walczak) The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a complaint against Arrow Reliance Inc., a Washington state pet food manufacturer, alleging the production and sale of contaminated pet food products.
On August 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice submitted a civil complaint seeking to permanently enjoin Arrow Reliance Inc., also known as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, from manufacturing and selling adulterated pet food. The complaint alleges that Gary T. Tashjian, the company’s operator, violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) by failing to adhere to preventive controls requirements, resulting in the production of unsafe pet food.
Brett A. Shumate, Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, emphasized the importance of product safety, stating, “Pet food manufacturers must ensure the safety of their products. Given the high likelihood that consumers will come into direct contact with pet food products, the Department of Justice will continue to work closely with FDA and take action against food manufacturers that operate under insanitary conditions.”
The complaint cites findings from the FDA, which detected pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), in Arrow Reliance’s finished products from samples collected between 2017 and 2025. In 2024, Salmonella was also found at the company’s Tukwila facility.
These bacterial infections can cause severe symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting in healthy adults, while posing even greater risks to vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. L. mono, in particular, can lead to stillbirths and miscarriages.
The complaint further alleges that Arrow Reliance’s products have caused repeated infections among consumers over several years, with multiple complaints from customers regarding health issues affecting both pets and humans. Notably, in 2024, a four-year-old child developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome after consuming food from Arrow Reliance, which was later confirmed to contain both Salmonella and STEC.
Arrow Reliance’s pet food products are distributed nationwide. The lawsuit seeks an injunction requiring Tashjian and Arrow Reliance to implement sanitation improvements and comply with federal food safety regulations before they can manufacture or distribute any further pet food products. The case will be heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, with Trial Attorney David Crockett leading the prosecution, supported by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kayla C. Stahman and FDA Associate Chief Counsel Rachel E. King.
The allegations in the complaint must be proven by the government if the case proceeds to trial.
