Nearly a ton of raw pet food just got pulled because federal tests found salmonella and listeria in specific chicken recipes.
Story Snapshot
- Northwest Naturals recalled 1,956 pounds of raw cat and dog food.
- Food and Drug Administration testing found salmonella and listeria in two chicken products.
- The recall covers 72 cases split across cat and dog formulas.
- Raw diets carry a higher risk of pathogen recalls than other pet foods.
What Was Recalled And Why It Matters
Northwest Naturals of Portland, Oregon, recalled two raw frozen chicken recipes after Food and Drug Administration tests flagged Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
The company pulled 53 cases, or 1,272 pounds, of a two-pound chicken recipe for cats and 19 cases, or 684 pounds, of a six-pound chicken recipe for dogs, for a total of 1,956 pounds. These bacteria can make pets sick. They can also sicken people who handle the food or touch bowls and surfaces.
The recall is voluntary and targets the identified lots named by the agency. Retailers and distributors were told to stop selling the affected bags. Pet owners are told to stop feeding the products and throw them away in a sealed bag.
The advice also includes washing hands and cleaning any area that touched the food. That step protects kids, seniors, and anyone with a weak immune system, who face a higher risk from these bugs.
How Salmonella And Listeria Spread From Pet Food
Salmonella and listeria often hitch a ride in raw meat. Grinding and mixing can spread them through a batch. Pets can shed germs in their stool even if they look fine.
People can get exposed by touching the food, the pet’s mouth, or kitchen gear used for prep. Listeria is tough in the cold, which makes freezing a weak defense. Good control requires clean inputs, kill steps, and strict handling, which many raw diets lack.
Food and Drug Administration records show raw pet foods are over-represented in pathogen recalls. A peer-reviewed review found 859 Salmonella-linked recalls across pet foods from 2003 to 2022. That accounted for 24 percent of all pet food recalls and 85 percent of bacterial-pathogen recalls.
An industry analysis of agency data found that raw diets accounted for the bulk of pathogen recalls, even though they are a small slice of the market. That pattern explains why this recall is not rare but part of a known risk profile.
What Owners Should Do Right Now
Check your freezer for Northwest Naturals chicken recipes that match the recalled lots listed by the Food and Drug Administration. If you have a match, stop feeding it at once. Bag it and toss it. Scrub bowls, scoops, counters, and freezer drawers with hot soapy water, then a bleach solution.
Wash your hands for 20 seconds after handling. Call your vet if your pet has diarrhea, fever, low energy, or vomiting. Call your doctor if you feel sick after handling the food.
‼️Dog Food Recall
Northwest Naturals Recalls Raw Pet Food Products Over Potential Salmonella and Listeria Contaminationhttps://t.co/MJvOiRuYs8
— becca (@patentlyme) September 1, 2026
Ask the store about refunds or replacements on recalled items. Keep the receipt or take a photo of the product label before you discard it. For the future, separate pet food prep from human food prep. Use dedicated utensils and a marked cutting board.
Clean and sanitize after every use. If you want the raw diet benefits, talk to your vet about safer options or products that use a proven kill step, such as high-pressure processing, paired with test-and-hold.
What This Recall Says About The Market
Raw pet food has a loyal base. Many owners like short labels and less processing. The risks, though, are consistent and well-documented.
Food and Drug Administration advisories have flagged a pattern of Salmonella, Listeria, and certain E. coli strains in raw pet food from multiple manufacturers over time.
That does not mean every raw product is unsafe. It does mean buyers should weigh choice and risk with clear eyes and steady habits that cut cross-contamination. Companies that sell raw diets face a simple test: keep bugs out or kill them before shipping.
Test-and-hold, validated kill steps, and full traceability protect families and pets and also protect honest firms from the fallout when a lot goes wrong.
The firms that invest in those controls will earn trust. Those that cut corners will keep meeting the same federal headlines, and consumers will pay the price.
Sources:
foxbusiness.com, fda.gov, nw-naturals.net, kibblelab.com
