Albright’s recalls raw chicken dog food over Salmonella risk: full analysis
Albright’s Raw Pet Food is recalling one lot of its Chicken Recipe for Dogs Complete and Balanced after routine FDA sampling found potential Salmonella contamination, adding another raw pet food safety alert to a category already under close public health scrutiny. The affected product is sold as frozen 1-pound bricks, generally packed in 30-pound cases, and is identified by lot code C001730 and best-by date April 28, 2027. The company announced the recall on May 6, 2026, and FDA published it on May 7, 2026. (fda.gov)
The immediate trigger was a routine FDA sample that tested positive for Salmonella species in one composite sample. Albright’s said the product was also tested for Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, but the lot in question was specifically reported as positive for Salmonella. The company said it is recalling the lot “out of an abundance of caution,” noting that the pathogen load has not been quantified and that third-party confirmatory testing is still pending. No illnesses in pets or humans had been confirmed or reported at the time of the announcement. (fda.gov)
The recall appears limited to a single lot, but the distribution footprint is broad. FDA’s posting says the product was sold directly to consumers nationwide, through direct online sales, and to a small number of select retailers in Massachusetts, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and New York. Pet parents are being told not to feed the product, to discard it securely so children, pets, and wildlife can’t access it, and to contact the company for refunds with a receipt and product photos. (fda.gov)
This isn’t the first time Albright’s chicken product has been recalled over Salmonella concerns. FDA records show the company previously recalled a chicken recipe product in November 2020, also tied to possible Salmonella contamination. That earlier event involved a different lot and packaging details, but the recurrence is notable because it underscores how raw chicken formulations remain a persistent risk point in the pet food supply chain. (fda.gov)
Public health agencies have been consistent on the broader issue. CDC says it does not recommend feeding raw pet food to dogs or cats because raw animal proteins can carry germs such as Salmonella and Listeria, and because contamination can spread beyond the bowl to kitchens, surfaces, hands, and people in the household. CDC also notes that some pets may become ill, while others may remain asymptomatic and still shed pathogens. AVMA similarly warns that pet food and treats can sometimes be contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella or Listeria, with raw products posing particular concern. (cdc.gov)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the practical issue isn’t only whether a dog gets gastroenteritis. It’s the overlap between companion animal medicine, infection control, and household public health. A recalled raw diet can become relevant during workups for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or fever, but also during conversations about zoonotic risk, especially in homes with young children, older adults, pregnant people, or immunocompromised family members. Clinics may also want to revisit intake questions about diet history, handling practices, and whether symptomatic pets have been fed raw products, because exposure can matter even when the animal appears clinically well. (fda.gov)
The timing also fits a wider pattern of regulatory attention on raw pet foods. FDA and CDC have both continued to emphasize handling precautions and recall awareness, and recent years have brought repeated alerts involving pathogen contamination in raw products. For practices, that means recall literacy is becoming part of routine client communication, particularly as more pet parents seek minimally processed or raw diets marketed as “complete and balanced.” CDC’s guidance is especially relevant here: “complete and balanced” addresses nutritional formulation, not microbiologic safety. That’s an inference based on CDC’s distinction between nutritional adequacy and contamination risk, but it’s an important one for client counseling. (cdc.gov)
What to watch: The next key developments are whether confirmatory testing supports the initial FDA finding, whether the recall expands beyond lot C001730, and whether any linked animal or human illnesses emerge in the coming days or weeks. (fda.gov)