Finding out that the food you’ve been carefully choosing for your pet—the kind that costs more, comes in tubes, and promises to be closer to nature—might be the exact cause of their illness can cause a certain kind of dread. Following the announcement of a recall affecting over 400,000 pounds of raw pet food products by Adelphia, New Jersey-based pet food retailer Raaw Energy, LLC, thousands of pet owners in the northeastern United States are currently dealing with that situation.
The recall, which was brought to the attention of the FDA, focuses on possible Listeria contamination in almost 60 different product types. The impacted food was produced over an exceptionally long period of time, beginning on July 17, 2025, and ending on December 23, 2025, with one more batch dating back to March 31, 2026. There wasn’t a single unpleasant day at the facility. There are unsettling questions about how and when the issue was discovered because months of production are at stake.
The recall covers goods sold in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Virginia. Beef and Chicken Medley, Turkey Medley, Duck, Green Tripe, Chicken Hearts, Beef and Salmon, and dozens of other products packaged in 2-pound and 5-pound tubes make up the list, which reads like the complete catalog of a company that had been developing a devoted following among raw-feeding enthusiasts. More than 80,000 pounds of the recalled product are from the Beef and Chicken Tripe Medley alone. At over 57,000 pounds, the Beef and Chicken Medley comes next.
The bacterium Listeria monocytogenes does not promote serenity. Exposure can result in gastrointestinal distress, fever, and muscle aches in healthy adults. It can be extremely dangerous for pets, especially those who are young, elderly, or have compromised immune systems. Listeria is difficult because infected animals may not immediately exhibit noticeable symptoms. It can be challenging for pet owners to determine whether their pet’s lethargy or upset stomach is due to a minor issue or something related to what was in the food bowl.
Raaw Energy has temporarily stopped all production as of May 21. Consumers are advised by the FDA to avoid using any of the recalled products. Put them in a safe container that is inaccessible to other animals. The next step, which is simple to forget, is to thoroughly clean and sanitize every bowl, storage container, utensil, and surface that the food may have come into contact with. Cross-contamination is a real risk, not merely a warning. Listeria can persist.
Over the past ten years, the market for raw pet food has expanded significantly due to the widespread belief among pet owners that whole-ingredient, less processed diets are better for their animals. There is some truth to that belief, but it comes with risks that cooked or dry food usually does not. The risk of microbial exposure is higher for raw products by nature. Salmonella and Listeria have previously been identified by the FDA in raw pet food recalls. Raaw Energy’s predicament is not unique, nor is it likely to be the last.
How consumers and regulators will advocate for more stringent oversight of small-batch raw pet food manufacturers in the future is still unknown. Raaw Energy had operations in almost a dozen states. For a business that most people outside of the raw-feeding community were probably unaware of last month, that is a significant distribution. It should serve as a reminder that the pet food supply chain is more complicated and risky than the clean branding on a tube might imply, rather than as a cause for alarm.
For the time being, carefully review the FDA’s recall list if you have been giving your dog or cat any Raaw Energy products. Next, make another check. Additionally, wash your hands.
