What was recalled
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a voluntary recall involving specific frozen pet food products manufactured by Northwest Naturals, a company based in Portland, Oregon. This action is not due to a manufacturing error in the traditional sense, but rather the result of safety testing that identified potential bacterial contamination. The affected items are two distinct product lines from their frozen raw diet collection: the Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe, which serves as cat food or a protein topper for dogs, and the Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe. It is important to note that this recall applies only to products from two specific production lots, identified by their lot numbers and expiration dates, so not every bag of Northwest Naturals chicken recipe on the market is affected.
The scope of this recall includes 53 cases of the cat food and protein topper, totaling 1,272 pounds. These products come in 2-pound bags, with twelve bags packed into each case. The specific product identified for this portion of the recall is the Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe (cat food and protein topper for dogs) in the 2 lbs. bag size. To verify if your product is part of this lot, you must check for Lot B-5 and a Best By date of 01/26/2028, with the Universal Product Code (UPC) of 087316384956. Alongside this, the recall encompasses 19 cases of the dog-specific formula, totaling 684 pounds. These products are packaged in larger 6-pound bags, with six bags per case. The affected item here is the Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe in the 6 lbs. bag size. Consumers must look for Lot B-19 and a Best By date of 01/25/2028, along with the UPC 087316380392.
The contamination was discovered after product samples were collected and tested by the FDA. The testing revealed that the Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe tested positive for Salmonella, while the Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe tested positive for both Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. These bacteria are serious concerns in raw pet food because they can survive in frozen states and pose significant health risks to both animals and humans who handle the product. The affected products were distributed to retail stores nationwide, meaning they could be in homes across the country regardless of location. If you have purchased these items from the identified lots, it is crucial to act immediately to ensure the safety of your household.
The hazard, explained
When we talk about a recall due to bacterial contamination, it is helpful to understand exactly what is happening at a microscopic level and why raw pet food presents a unique challenge. In this specific case, the Northwest Naturals products were found to be harboring two distinct types of bacteria: Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. These are not foreign chemicals or artificial additives; they are naturally occurring microorganisms that can survive in cold environments. The fact that these frozen items tested positive for both pathogens indicates that the raw meat ingredients used in the recipe were either already contaminated before processing or became contaminated during manufacturing, packaging, or handling.
Salmonella is perhaps one of the more well-known bacteria associated with foodborne illness. It typically resides in the intestinal tracts of animals, including poultry, cattle, and pets. When raw chicken is processed into pet food, if proper sanitization protocols fail or if cross-contamination occurs from equipment or surfaces, these bacteria can remain viable on the product. Salmonella is particularly resilient; it does not necessarily change the smell, taste, or appearance of the frozen kibble or raw patty. You cannot see it with your naked eye. When an animal eats it, the bacteria colonize the gut, causing inflammation and infection. For humans, the danger lies in handling the product. If you touch contaminated food and then touch your face, mouth, or other surfaces without washing your hands thoroughly, you transfer the bacteria to yourself. Salmonella attacks the lining of the intestines, leading to the body’s immune response—fever, cramping, and diarrhea—as it tries to flush out the invaders.
Listeria monocytogenes, however, is a bit more insidious in this context. Unlike many other bacteria that struggle in cold temperatures, Listeria thrives in refrigerated and frozen conditions. This means it can grow slowly even inside your freezer over time. When consumed, it has the ability to invade the intestinal lining and spread to other parts of the body. In healthy adults, this might result in mild flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, because Listeria can enter the bloodstream and cross into the central nervous system, it poses a severe threat to vulnerable populations. It is not just about stomach upset; it is about systemic infection that can lead to meningitis or sepsis.
The combination of these two pathogens in raw pet food creates a double-layered risk. The product itself acts as a vehicle for transmission. Because the food is raw, it has not been subjected to high-heat cooking processes that would kill these bacteria. Therefore, the hazard remains active until it is either consumed by an immune system strong enough to fight it off, or destroyed by thorough handwashing and surface sanitization after handling. The risk is not just to the pet eating the food, but to every person in the household who unpacks the box, pours the kibble, or cleans up spills.
Who is most at risk
While this voluntary recall impacts pet owners nationwide who have purchased specific lots of Northwest Naturals frozen chicken recipes, the potential health consequences are not distributed equally among all humans. The primary danger lies in the transmission of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes through indirect contact. Because these bacteria can survive on surfaces, packaging, and even in the feces of infected pets, any household member who handles the product or cleans up after an animal becomes a potential vector for infection. However, certain groups face significantly higher risks of severe illness, hospitalization, or long-term complications.
The most vulnerable population regarding Listeria monocytogenes includes pregnant women, newborns, adults aged 65 and older, and individuals with weakened immune systems. For the general public, Listeria infections are relatively rare but can be deadly. In pregnant women, the bacteria can cross the placental barrier, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Older adults and those with compromised immune systems—due to conditions like cancer, diabetes, or organ transplants—are less able to fight off the bacteria once it enters the bloodstream. In these cases, Listeria can cause meningitis, sepsis, and other serious systemic infections that require intensive medical intervention.
While Salmonella affects a broader range of people, those with weakened immune systems are also at heightened risk for invasive disease. Typically, healthy adults may experience self-limiting gastroenteritis characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. Most recover without treatment. However, for immunocompromised individuals, the infection can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites. This can result in arterial infections, endocarditis (infection of the heart lining), arthritis, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. These complications are far more difficult to treat and carry a higher risk of permanent health damage.
Children are also considered a high-risk group for Salmonella because their immune systems are still developing. They may experience more severe dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting than adults, often requiring hospitalization for fluid replacement. Furthermore, young children are more likely to have close physical contact with pets and may inadvertently touch contaminated surfaces or packaging before washing their hands, increasing the likelihood of ingestion.
In summary, while any pet owner handling these recalled products should take precautions, pregnant women, seniors, immunocompromised individuals, and young children are at the greatest risk for severe outcomes. If you belong to one of these groups and have handled the recalled Northwest Naturals products, monitor your health closely and consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience symptoms such as fever, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, or persistent gastrointestinal distress.
How to tell if you have the recalled item
If you recently purchased frozen raw pet food from Northwest Naturals, taking a moment to inspect your freezer or pantry is a prudent step. Because this recall involves specific production lots rather than every product made by the brand, precise identification is essential to determine whether your pets are at risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified two distinct products that fall under this voluntary recall. To verify if you own one of these items, you need to look past the general branding and focus entirely on the lot codes and universal product codes (UPCs) printed on the packaging.
First, check for the Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe, which serves as both cat food and a protein topper for dogs. This specific item comes in 2-pound bags. If you have this product, locate the best-by date printed on the package; the recalled units will bear the date 01/26/2028. Crucially, you must verify the lot code. The affected bags are marked with Lot B-5. You can confirm this by checking the UPC number, which should read 087316384956. These items were packaged in cases containing 12 bags each, though your individual bag will only display the specific lot and UPC details.
The second product to check is the Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe. This item is sold in larger 6-pound bags. Similar to the cat food, you need to look for a best-by date of 01/25/2028. The critical identifier here is the lot code B-19. Additionally, the UPC on the affected 6-pound bags will be 087316380392. These products were distributed in cases containing 6 bags each. It is important to note that while the brand name and recipe (Chicken) are common, the specific lot codes B-5 and B-19 are the definitive markers of contamination.
If you cannot find these lot codes or UPCs, your product may be from a different, safe production run. However, if you locate Lot B-5 on the 2-pound cat food bags or Lot B-19 on the 6-pound dog diet bags, do not feed them to your pets. The contamination with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes was identified through FDA testing of these specific samples. Since these products were distributed to retail stores nationwide, you can find them in various grocery or pet supply outlets. Accurate identification prevents unnecessary waste while ensuring that only potentially contaminated items are removed from your home.
What to do — step by step
If you have purchased Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe or the Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe from the specific lots identified in this recall, your immediate priority is to ensure the safety of both your household and your pets. The FDA has confirmed that these products may be contaminated with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes, bacteria that can pose serious health risks. Because the manufacturer, Northwest Naturals of Portland, Oregon, is voluntarily recalling these items, there is a clear, straightforward path to resolving the situation without panic. Please follow these steps carefully to protect yourself and get your money back.
- Stop feeding the product immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear in your pet or any family member. If you have either the 2 lbs. bag of Frozen Chicken Recipe (Lot B-5) or the 6 lbs. bag of Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe (Lot B-19), remove it from your home right away. Even if the bag looks and smells fine, contamination cannot be detected by sight or smell. Feeding these products to pets can cause lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever in animals, and handling them poses a risk of human infection, particularly for those with weakened immune systems.
- Secure the product safely. Before disposing of or returning the item, handle it with extreme caution. Wear disposable gloves if you have them, and avoid touching your face, eyes, or mouth while handling the packaging. Place the frozen bags into a sealed plastic bag to prevent any potential leakage or cross-contamination of other items in your freezer or refrigerator. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds after removing the gloves.
- Return the unused portion to the place of purchase. The remedy for this recall is a full refund. Take the recalled product back to the retail store where you bought it. You do not need the original receipt in most cases, but having it may help process the transaction faster. Inform the customer service desk that you are returning an item due to the FDA recall of Northwest Naturals pet food. The retailer is authorized to provide a full refund for the unused portion of the product.
- Contact the manufacturer if you have questions. If you need more information about the specific lots, the nature of the contamination, or if you encounter issues with your refund, you can reach out directly to Northwest Naturals. Call their consumer relations line at 1-866-637-1872. Their team is available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time. They can confirm whether your specific UPC codes match the recalled lots and answer any other concerns you may have.
- Monitor your pets and household for symptoms. While no illnesses have been reported to date with this recall, it is wise to watch your pets closely over the next few days. Look for signs such as decreased appetite, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or lethargy. For humans, especially pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems, watch for symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, or loss of balance. If you or your pet exhibit these signs after contact with the recalled product, contact your healthcare provider or veterinarian promptly.
By taking these steps, you are not only securing your refund but also actively preventing potential exposure to harmful bacteria. Safe handling of raw pet food is essential, and this recall serves as a reminder to always wash hands thoroughly after handling such products and to keep them separate from human food storage areas.
Your refund, repair, or replacement options
If you purchased any of the affected Northwest Naturals products, your primary and most straightforward remedy is a full refund for the unused portion of the product. The manufacturer has clearly outlined this process to ensure that customers are not financially penalized for receiving a product that does not meet safety standards. Because these items were identified as potentially contaminated with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes, they cannot be safely used or returned to shelves. Therefore, the company is standing behind their products by offering complete financial reimbursement rather than forcing you to keep or destroy the item without compensation.
To receive your refund, you must follow a specific set of steps designed to protect your health and ensure proper documentation. First, immediately stop feeding the recalled product to your pets. Do not attempt to cook, heat, or otherwise process the food to make it safe; bacterial contamination in raw pet food is not reliably eliminated by typical household preparation methods. Next, locate the unused portion of the product you purchased. You will need to take this unused product directly back to the retail store where you bought it. The retailer has been notified of the recall and is authorized to process the return. When you go to the store, simply present the product for inspection. Because the product was recalled due to biological hazards rather than a manufacturing defect like a broken seal or wrong label, the store may have specific protocols for handling returned pet food items to prevent cross-contamination in their storage areas.
It is important to understand why the remedy is limited to a refund and does not include a replacement. The nature of the contamination—specifically the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes—means that the entire production lot is considered compromised. Northwest Naturals cannot simply swap out your bag for a new one because the same risk exists in their current inventory until they are certain their safety protocols have been fully restored. A refund allows you to remove the hazard from your home immediately while you decide on an alternative feeding strategy, whether that means choosing a different brand or switching to cooked or kibble-based diets.
If you have questions about the process, need clarification on which lots are affected, or encounter any issues with the retailer during the return, you can contact Northwest Naturals directly. They have established a dedicated consumer support line for this recall. You may reach them at 1-866-637-1872. Please note that their customer service representatives are available to assist you from Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Keep in mind that they may not be available on Fridays, weekends, or holidays, so plan your call accordingly. Have your receipt or proof of purchase ready if possible, though many retailers can process recalls without it if the product is physically returned.
- Stop feeding the product to your pet immediately.
- Do not dispose of the product in your regular trash until you are at the store, as this may spread contamination; however, if you must discard it before returning, seal it tightly in a plastic bag to prevent leakage.
- Return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.
- Contact Northwest Naturals at 1-866-637-1872 (Mon-Thu, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. PT) for questions.
What can happen if you ignore it
It is completely understandable why you might hesitate to throw away a valuable bag of premium pet food, especially when the recall notice feels like an overreaction. After all, your pet has eaten from this batch before without any obvious issues, and the product looks and smells normal. However, ignoring this specific recall carries significant health risks for both your animal companion and your entire household. The core danger here is not a nutritional imbalance or a digestive upset caused by bad ingredients; it is biological contamination with two very serious pathogens: Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. These are not merely "bad bacteria" that cause a quick tummy ache; they are invasive organisms that can lead to severe, systemic illness.
If your pet continues to consume these contaminated products, the consequences can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening infection. Animals infected with Salmonella or Listeria may exhibit lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can sometimes be bloody. Even if your pet appears healthy on the surface, they can become an asymptomatic carrier. This means they are silently shedding the bacteria in their waste, creating a persistent contamination cycle within your home. Pets do not just suffer individually; they act as vectors, potentially infecting other animals in multi-pet households or spreading the hazard to people through close contact.
The risk to humans is equally grave and often underestimated. Handling contaminated pet food poses a direct route of transmission for you and your family members. Salmonella infection in people typically presents with nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and fever. While many healthy adults recover without treatment, the infection can escalate rapidly. In severe cases, it may spread from the intestines into the bloodstream and travel to other body sites, causing arterial infections, endocarditis (infection of the heart lining), arthritis, and serious eye irritation. Listeria monocytogenes is particularly dangerous because it can survive and multiply even in cold refrigerator temperatures, making it a persistent threat in your kitchen environment if not handled correctly. For vulnerable individuals, including pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems, Listeria infection can be fatal. In pregnant women, it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
Furthermore, by ignoring the recall, you are allowing the bacteria to persist in your home environment. Listeria and Salmonella can contaminate bowls, countertops, and storage areas that come into contact with the food. If you do not return the product for a full refund and proper disposal, you are effectively keeping a source of these pathogens in your living space. The longer these bacteria remain accessible, the higher the probability that someone in your household will come into contact with them through hands, clothes, or cross-contaminated surfaces. There is no upside to continuing use; the only outcome is an increased statistical likelihood of serious medical intervention for you or your pet.
Staying safe: broader tips
While this specific recall involves Northwest Naturals, the underlying hazard—bacterial contamination in raw pet food—is a well-known challenge for anyone who chooses to feed their pets uncooked diets. Raw pet food is not sterile; it can harbor dangerous pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes just as raw chicken or beef intended for human consumption might. Because these bacteria are invisible to the naked eye, relying on smell or appearance is never a safe strategy. Instead, safety must be built into your daily routine through strict hygiene and handling protocols. This is not about fear, but about respect for the biological reality of raw meat products.
The most critical line of defense is rigorous hand hygiene. After any contact with raw pet food, its packaging, or even the surfaces where it was stored, you must wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. This simple act removes bacteria that may have transferred to your skin. It is especially important to wash your hands before preparing human food, eating, or touching your face. Many people underestimate how easily pathogens can move from a pet’s bowl to a kitchen counter and then to their own lunch. Treat raw pet food with the same caution you would apply when handling raw poultry in your own meal preparation.
Preventing cross-contamination is equally vital. Always store raw pet food in sealed containers on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator or freezer. This ensures that if any leaks occur, they cannot drip onto other foods below. When cleaning up, use hot, soapy water or a disinfectant spray to sanitize all surfaces, bowls, utensils, and storage areas that touched the raw product. Do not share cutting boards or knives between raw pet food and human food items. If you have multiple pets, consider using separate feeding stations to prevent one animal from ingesting another’s potentially contaminated food.
Finally, be aware of who in your household is most vulnerable. While healthy adults may experience mild symptoms if exposed to these bacteria, pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at significantly higher risk for severe illness. For these groups, it is often wise to avoid handling raw pet food altogether or to wear disposable gloves and wash hands immediately afterward. Regularly checking for product recalls from agencies like the FDA can also help you stay ahead of potential hazards before they become a problem in your home. By making these habits second nature, you protect not only your pets but everyone in your household.