Recall: two frozen raw chicken diets for cats and dogs withdrawn after FDA testing found Salmonella and Listeria

In August 2026, a US raw pet food maker recalled one lot each of a frozen raw chicken diet for cats and one for dogs after FDA sampling found Salmonella, and in the dog food also Listeria monocytogenes. This alert sets out the affected lots, what owners should do, how to report a problem, and what makers and buyers of raw and minimally processed pet food should check.

PNL

Guires PNL InsightsWritten by the nutrition science and regulatory teams

Reviewed byGuires PNL scientific team

Published28 Aug 2026

Last checked28 Aug 2026

Reading time6 minutes

Key takeaways

One lot of a 2 lb frozen raw chicken diet for cats and one lot of a 6 lb frozen raw chicken diet for dogs are recalled.
FDA’s own samples found Salmonella in the cat food, and Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in the dog food.
No illnesses had been reported when the recall was announced; unused product can be returned to the retailer for a refund.
Freezing does not kill these bacteria — raw diets need a validated pathogen control and careful handling at home.

Voluntary recall · United StatesCompany announcement and FDA publication 28 August 2026

Risk levelSerious — pathogen hazard

StatusVoluntary recall

AuthorityUS FDA (FDA sampling)

Announced28 Aug 2026

Applies toFrozen raw chicken diets — cat lot B-5, dog lot B-19

Illnesses reportedNone at announcement

EvidenceRecallRated by the Guires Pet Nutrition Lab scientific team

ProductsFrozen raw chicken diets for cats (2 lb) and dogs (6 lb)

HazardSalmonella; Listeria monocytogenes in the dog food

ActionStop feeding, return for refund, clean thoroughly

01Affected products

Only the lots below are recalled. The lot number and best-by date are printed on the bag.

Product	Size	Lot	Best by	UPC	Pathogen found
Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe (cat food)	2 lb	B-5	26 Jan 2028	0 87316 38495 6	Salmonella
Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs — Chicken Recipe	6 lb	B-19	25 Jan 2028	0 87316 38039 2	Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes

53 cases of the cat food and 19 cases of the dog food were distributed to retail stores nationwide ¹.

02What happened

Summer 2026
FDA collected and tested samples of both products ¹.
Results
The cat food tested positive for Salmonella; the dog food tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes ¹.
28 Aug 2026
The company announced a voluntary recall and FDA published the notice ¹.

Under FDA policy, pet food that people handle directly is considered adulterated if it contains Salmonella ². Both products are sold frozen and are never cooked, so there is no heat step to reduce bacteria before the food reaches the bowl.

03Why it matters for pets and people

Signs in cats and dogs

Lethargy
Diarrhoea or bloody diarrhoea
Fever and vomiting
Reduced appetite or abdominal pain
Pets without signs can still shed bacteria in saliva and faeces

Signs in people

Salmonella: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, fever
Listeria: fever, headache, muscle aches; in severe cases confusion, loss of balance or convulsions

Symptoms are as described in the recall notice ¹. Listeria infection is of particular concern for pregnant women, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who should take extra care handling raw pet food.

04What owners should do

If you have the product

Check the lot number, best-by date and UPC on your bag against the table above.
If your bag matches, stop feeding it. Return unused product to the store for a full refund, or seal it and discard it in a closed bin.
Clean and sanitise freezer shelves, the fridge, bowls, utensils and surfaces the food touched; wash your hands thoroughly.
Watch your cat or dog for the signs above and call your veterinarian if you are concerned.
If anyone in the household becomes unwell, contact a doctor and mention the recall.
Questions: 1-866-637-1872 (Monday–Thursday, 8am–4pm PT) or recallinfo@nw-naturals.net.

05Reporting a problem to FDA

If a pet or person became ill after contact with the product, report it to FDA ³:

How to report

Online through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal, or by phone to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for your state.
Include the product name, lot number, best-by date, UPC, where and when you bought it, and what happened.
Add your veterinarian’s details and any test results — vets can also report directly.
Keep remaining product frozen and sealed in case it is needed for testing.

Outside the US, report to your national authority. Guires PNL also accepts confidential reports through our pet food problem form.

06Similar products with a similar risk

Freezing and freeze-drying preserve raw food but do not kill Salmonella or Listeria, and Listeria can grow slowly at fridge temperature once food is thawed. Products with a comparable risk profile include:

Product type	Why the risk exists
Frozen raw diets and toppers	In one study, Salmonella was found in 26.2% and Listeria monocytogenes in 19% of raw diets, and in none of the extruded diets tested ⁴.
Freeze-dried raw foods and treats	Freeze-drying removes water but is not a kill step, so bacteria present in the raw meat survive.
Air-dried and dried-meat treats	13 of 84 dried-meat dog treats bought in the UK carried Salmonella ⁵.
High-pressure processed (HPP) raw foods	HPP can achieve large reductions in Salmonella and STEC, but results vary by recipe and pathogen, so each product needs its own validation ⁶.
Raw poultry and cattle products	US makers must also consider H5N1 avian influenza in their food safety plans — see our H5N1 alert.

Across 3,691 US pet food recalls from 2003 to 2022, Salmonella was the cause in 23% ⁷.

07What makers and buyers of raw pet food should look for

Buyer checklist

A validated pathogen control — such as high-pressure processing — tested on each recipe for Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and STEC.
Approved meat suppliers with lot-specific microbiological results.
Finished-product testing with hold-and-release, so no lot ships before results are back.
Environmental monitoring for Listeria in processing, packing and cold-storage areas.
Cold-chain control from plant to store, with temperature records.
A food safety plan under FDA’s Preventive Controls for Animal Food rule for products sold in the US ⁸, clear safe-handling instructions on pack, and a tested recall procedure.

Guires Pet Nutrition Lab verdict

Raw means no kill step unless you add one. Validate a pathogen control on every recipe, test every lot before release, and give owners clear safe-handling instructions.

08Questions brands ask

Is my bag affected?

Only the 2 lb cat food, lot B-5, best by 26 Jan 2028, and the 6 lb dog food, lot B-19, best by 25 Jan 2028, with the UPCs shown above.

Does freezing make it safe?

No. Freezing preserves raw food but does not kill Salmonella or Listeria.

Can I get a refund?

Yes — the company says unused product can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Who found the problem?

FDA collected and tested the samples that led to the recall.

Sources

FDA (28 Aug 2026). Northwest Naturals voluntarily recalls two raw pet food products because of possible Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes (company announcement). Source ↗
FDA (2013). Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 690.800 — Salmonella in food for animals; availability. Federal Register 78(136). Source ↗
FDA. How to report a pet food complaint. Source ↗
Solís D et al. (2022). Pathogens in raw and conventional diets for dogs and cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Source ↗
Morgan G et al. (2023). Salmonella in dried-meat dog treats sold in the UK. Veterinary Record. Source ↗
Lee A et al. (2023). High-pressure processing of raw pet food. Journal of Food Protection. Source ↗
DeBeer J et al. (2024). US pet food recalls 2003–2022. Journal of Food Protection. Source ↗
eCFR. 21 CFR Part 507 — Preventive controls for food for animals. Source ↗

Evidence reviewed by the Guires Pet Nutrition Lab scientific team. This article is general information for product developers and is not legal or veterinary advice.

How to cite this article

Choose your referencing style, then copy. Check your university’s, journal’s or regulator’s guide for local variations.

Guires Pet Nutrition Lab. (2026, August 28). Recall: two frozen raw chicken diets for cats and dogs withdrawn after FDA testing found Salmonella and Listeria. Guires Pet Nutrition Lab Insights. https://www.petnutritionlab.com/insights/recall-raw-pet-food-salmonella-listeria-2026

This article summarises published evidence for product developers. Cite the original sources above for specific findings, and do not reproduce this article as your own work.

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