Elite Treats recalls one lot of Chicken Chips for Salmonella risk

Elite Treats LLC has recalled a single lot of “Elite Treats Chicken Chips for Dogs” because of possible Salmonella contamination, adding another entry to the steady stream of pathogen-related pet food and treat recalls. The recall, posted by FDA on February 24, 2026, covers 6-ounce bags marked with lot number 24045 and an expiration date of 04/2027. The Boca Raton, Florida company said the product was distributed to feed stores in five Southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. (fda.gov)

What appears to have triggered this action is notable. The company said contamination was identified not in the recalled retail lot itself, but after third-party testing found Salmonella in a related lot that had not yet been commercially released. That kind of upstream signal can prompt a targeted recall before confirmed illnesses emerge, and in this case the company said no illnesses had been reported at the time of the announcement. Petfood Industry’s coverage tracked closely with the FDA notice and underscored the same point: this was a one-lot recall tied to a preventive response after outside lab findings. (fda.gov)

The product details are straightforward, which should help clinics and retailers identify affected inventory quickly. The recalled item is “Elite Treats Chicken Chips for Dogs,” packaged in a black-and-gold 6-ounce bag. Only lot 24045 with expiration date 04/2027 is included. The FDA notice says consumers should stop using the product, not sell or donate it, dispose of it securely so children, pets, and wildlife can’t access it, and wash and sanitize bowls, cups, storage containers, hands, and any surfaces that may have contacted the treats. (fda.gov)

From a clinical standpoint, the risk message is familiar but still important. FDA says pets with Salmonella infection may be lethargic and have diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite, or abdominal pain. Some animals may be infected without obvious signs, yet still shed Salmonella and contaminate the home environment. FDA’s broader consumer guidance and CDC’s pet food safety guidance both stress that exposure is not limited to the pet eating the product; pet parents and veterinary staff can also be exposed through handling contaminated food or treats, feces, dishes, or contaminated household surfaces. CDC also notes that raw pet foods and treats carry particular microbial risk because uncooked animal proteins may contain pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria. (fda.gov)

There doesn’t appear to be much independent expert commentary specific to this recall yet, but the industry reaction has been consistent with standard recall coverage: treat it as both a food safety and public health issue. Georgia’s agriculture department reposted the recall for in-state awareness, and trade coverage highlighted the same dual-risk framing for pets and people. In the absence of reported illnesses, the practical emphasis has been on inventory checks, client notification, and hygiene measures rather than on outbreak investigation. That’s a reasonable signal that, at least so far, this remains a contained recall rather than a broader event. (agr.ga.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, recalls like this are less about novelty and more about workflow. Practices may field calls from concerned pet parents whose dogs ate the treats but aren’t visibly sick, and teams need to be ready to explain that asymptomatic carriage is possible. This is also the kind of recall where client counseling should extend beyond the dog to household risk, especially if there are young children, older adults, or immunocompromised people in the home, since FDA says those groups are more vulnerable to serious infection. In mixed-animal or multi-pet households, veterinarians may also want to reinforce sanitation around feces, food prep areas, bowls, and storage containers. (fda.gov)

The broader backdrop is that Salmonella remains a recurring recall driver in pet food and treats, particularly in products made from animal proteins with limited kill-step protection. While this Elite Treats action is narrow, it fits a larger pattern in which contamination concerns are often detected through testing rather than illness reports. That matters for clinics because it means more recalls may arrive before any obvious case cluster appears, putting veterinarians in the role of interpreter and risk communicator for pet parents. (fda.gov)

What to watch: The next signals to monitor are whether FDA or state agencies expand the scope beyond lot 24045, whether any adverse event reports surface after wider consumer awareness, and whether Elite Treats or downstream distributors provide more detail on manufacturing controls or testing tied to the contaminated unreleased lot. (fda.gov)