Most people who own pets come to trust the brands they buy. They read the labels once or twice and then stop. The food goes in the bowl, the bag goes in the freezer, and life goes on. That’s exactly why the recent Northwest Naturals recall was important to pay attention to.
Northwest Naturals, a company that sells food for pets that is clean, raw, and minimally processed, took back two of its frozen products after routine FDA testing showed that they might be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Two of the products that are affected are the Frozen Chicken Recipe and the Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe. The Frozen Chicken Recipe is a cat food and protein topper for dogs that comes in 2-pound bags. January 26, 2028, and January 25, 2028, under lot numbers B-5 and B-19, are the best-by dates to look for. 72 cases were taken out of circulation, and they ended up in stores all over the country.
Seventy-two cases may not seem like a lot, but think about how raw pet food gets around a house. The ice melts on the counters. It is picked up with bare hands. The kids touch the same things. This is not the kind of contamination risk that stays inside the bowl, and that’s the part of recall notices that people often miss.
Salmonella and Listeria can both make people very sick, not just people with weak immune systems or the elderly, who are at the highest risk. It’s easy to miss the signs in pets, like a dog that just doesn’t seem right, being tired, or having stomach problems. People who already used part of a recalled bag might not even know what’s going on. The FDA’s advice is clear: stop using the product right away, send it back for a full refund, and wash your hands and surfaces well. If a person or animal has symptoms like fever or stomach pain, they should see a doctor right away.
There has been this tension in the raw pet food category for a long time. People who like it say it’s more like an animal’s natural diet, like what they would eat before kibble existed. Many people, including veterinarians, have said that handling raw animal protein on a large scale or at home is inherently risky because of the bacteria that can be present. Even though the Northwest Naturals recall doesn’t end the debate, it does add to it with new information about a topic that pet owners may want to think about more when making decisions.
It is important to note that this recall was voluntary and wasn’t caused by a wave of illnesses. It was caused by FDA testing. The system is meant to work that way—spot it early, act quickly, and let everyone know. Northwest Naturals seems to have done things the right way. Still, there’s a good question that’s not getting much attention: how often does normal testing find something and how often doesn’t it?
At this point, the practical step is easy to understand. Look in the freezer. Take a look at the lots. Leave the bags alone and send them back if they match. If you have questions, you can call Northwest Naturals directly. Based on what everyone has said, the refund process is going smoothly.
The thought of finding a problem in food that was supposed to be healthier is slightly unsettling. That feeling doesn’t need to be made more dramatic. You just need to pay attention.
