Northwest Naturals recalls raw chicken pet foods after FDA testing

Northwest Naturals is voluntarily recalling two frozen raw chicken pet food products after FDA testing identified contamination concerns involving Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The August 28, 2026 recall covers 53 cases, or 1,272 pounds, of Frozen Chicken Recipe cat food and 19 cases, or 684 pounds, of Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe. FDA said the products were distributed to retail stores nationwide, and no illnesses had been reported at the time of the announcement. (fda.gov)

The affected products are Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe, a 2-pound bag labeled for cats and also marketed as a protein topper for dogs, lot B-5 with a best-by date of January 26, 2028, and Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe, a 6-pound bag, lot B-19 with a best-by date of January 25, 2028. According to FDA, the chicken cat food tested positive for Salmonella, while the dog food tested positive for both Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. Consumers are being told to stop feeding the products and return unused portions for a refund. (fda.gov)

This recall lands in a category that has drawn sustained veterinary and public health scrutiny. Raw pet food recalls are not new, and Northwest Naturals itself has appeared in prior FDA recall notices, including an older 2018 recall involving frozen chicken and salmon dog food chubs because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. More broadly, federal and veterinary guidance has consistently framed raw diets as a One Health issue because pathogens in the food can affect both pets and people handling it. (fda.gov)

That context matters because FDA’s notice emphasizes risk on both sides of the exam room. In people, exposure to contaminated pet food can lead to gastrointestinal illness and, in some cases, more serious systemic infection. In pets, signs may include lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite, and abdominal pain, but some animals may carry and shed pathogens without obvious illness. The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association amplified the recall notice this week, underscoring the same concern for veterinary teams and pet parents in practice settings. (fda.gov)

Industry coverage has so far largely tracked the FDA notice rather than adding independent reaction, but that in itself is notable. PetfoodIndustry reported that the contamination was identified through FDA sample collection and testing, and described the action as a voluntary pull of two frozen raw formulas from the Portland, Oregon-based company. At the time of writing, the public record points to FDA testing as the trigger rather than reported illnesses or an outbreak investigation. (petfoodindustry.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the immediate issue is triage and communication. Practices may see calls from pet parents asking whether nonspecific GI signs, fever, or reduced appetite could be linked to recalled food, and teams may also need to address household exposure risk for immunocompromised clients, older adults, pregnant people, and young children. The recall is also a practical reminder to document diet history routinely, especially in pets with enteric disease, recurrent GI signs, or suspected foodborne infection. CDC says it does not recommend feeding raw pet food because raw animal products can contain germs such as Salmonella and Listeria, while AAHA says it does not advocate or endorse raw or dehydrated nonsterilized animal-origin foods and notes that high-pressure processing does not make a product sterile. (cdc.gov)

For clinics that stock, discuss, or are asked about raw diets, this recall may also sharpen conversations about risk mitigation. FDA’s handling guidance remains straightforward: wash hands thoroughly after contact, clean and sanitize bowls and surfaces, separate raw pet food from human food, and keep products frozen or refrigerated until use. Those steps don’t eliminate contamination risk, but they do help reduce secondary exposure in homes and clinics. (fda.gov)

What to watch: The next signals will be whether FDA updates the recall classification or status, whether additional lots are added, and whether any animal or human illnesses are reported after broader consumer awareness and product returns begin. For now, the recall appears limited to the two identified lots announced on August 28, 2026. (fda.gov)