Northwest Naturals recalls raw pet foods

Northwest Naturals said on August 28 that it was voluntarily recalling two frozen raw chicken pet food products after U.S. Food and Drug Administration testing found Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The Portland, Oregon, company said the recall covers one cat food product and one dog food product distributed nationwide. (nw-naturals.net) The FDA posted the company announcement on its recall page, and the company published the same notice on its website. No illnesses had been reported as of the recall notice, according to the FDA and Northwest Naturals. (fda.gov) ### Which products are covered by the recall? The recall covers 53 cases, or 1,272 pounds, of Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe cat food sold in 2-pound bags, the company said. That product is identified as lot B-5 with a best-by date of 01/25/2028 and UPC 087316380286. The notice also covers 19 cases, or 684 pounds, of Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe sold in 6-pound bags. That product is identified as lot B-19 with a best-by date of 01/25/2028 and UPC 087316380392. (fda.gov) ### What did FDA testing find? FDA testing found Salmonella in both recalled products, according to the company announcement posted by the agency. The 6-pound dog food product also tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, according to the recall notice. (nw-naturals.net) The FDA said contaminated pet food can affect both animals eating the product and people handling it. The agency said pets with Salmonella or Listeria infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea, fever or vomiting, while some infected pets may show only reduced appetite, fever and abdominal pain. (nw-naturals.net) ### What are consumers being told to do now? Northwest Naturals said consumers should stop feeding the recalled products immediately and throw them away in a secure container. (fda.gov) The company also said consumers should discard the original packaging and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, storage containers and surfaces that may have touched the food. The FDA said people who handled the recalled food should wash and sanitize their hands and contact surfaces because Salmonella and Listeria can spread from contaminated pet food to humans. The agency said people exposed to the products should watch for symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal cramping and contact a healthcare provider if needed. (fda.gov) ### How widespread was the distribution? Northwest Naturals said the recalled products were distributed to retailers nationwide in the United States. (nw-naturals.net) The company said the products were sold in frozen form. Food Safety News reported on August 31 that the public notice listed the product names and lot numbers for consumers to check against packages at home. That report matched the product details in the FDA notice. (fda.gov) ### Where can owners check details or ask questions? Northwest Naturals listed recall contact information in its August 28 notice, including phone number 1-866-637-1872 and the email address recallinfo@nw-naturals.net. The company said consumers can return unused product to the place of purchase for a full refund. (nw-naturals.net) The FDA recall page and Northwest Naturals’ recall notice both include the affected product names, lot numbers, best-by dates and UPC codes. As of the posted notices, the next step for consumers is to check frozen pet food packages for lot B-5 or B-19 and follow the disposal and cleaning instructions in the recall announcement. (foodsafetynews.com) (fda.gov) (nw-naturals.net)