Albright's recalls chicken dog food

Raw dog food is back in the recall headlines — this time because one tested sample came back positive for Salmonella. Albright’s Raw Pet Food, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, pulled one lot of its Chicken Recipe for Dogs “Complete and Balanced” on May 6, and the FDA posted the notice on May 7. The immediate issue is simple: if you bought this specific frozen chicken product, don’t feed it. But the bigger reason this matters is that Salmonella in pet food is not just a pet problem — people handling the food can get exposed too. ### Which product is actually recalled? The recall is narrow, not brand-wide. It covers Albright’s Chicken Recipe for Dogs “Complete and Balanced,” sold as frozen 1-pound bricks in clear vacuum packaging, usually packed in 30-pound cases. The key identifiers are lot code C001730, best-by date April 28, 2027, and UPC 20855404008367. If those numbers do not match, the notice does not say your product is included. (fda.gov) ### Why was it recalled? The trigger was routine FDA sampling. One composite sample from the recalled lot tested positive for Salmonella, and Albright’s said it started the recall out of caution while it keeps investigating, including with third-party lab testing. That’s worth noting because this does not read like a wave of reported illnesses forced the recall after the fact. It reads like a contamination signal was caught first. (dvm360.com) ### Where was it sold? This was not a tiny local pullback. The product went directly to consumers nationwide, including online sales, and also reached a small number of retailers in Massachusetts, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and New York. So even though the company is based in Indiana, the practical advice is national — check your freezer, not just your local store. (foxbusiness.com) ### Why is Salmonella in dog food a human problem? Because raw pet food gets handled in kitchens, sinks, counters, bowls, and freezers. Salmonella can make pets sick, but it can also infect people who touch contaminated food or surfaces and then touch their mouth or other food. The FDA notice flags both sides of the risk — pets may show lethargy, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, or lower appetite, and some infected pets may show no symptoms while still shedding the bacteria. (aol.com) That asymptomatic part is the catch. A dog can look fine and still spread germs. ### What should owners do now? Do not feed the recalled lot. Albright’s says to throw it out or destroy it so children, pets, and wildlife cannot get to it. The company also says customers seeking a refund should keep a receipt, product photos, and purchase information. If your dog already ate it and seems off, call your veterinarian. If you handled the food and you get gastrointestinal symptoms, call a doctor. (fda.gov) ### Have any illnesses been reported? As of the company’s May 6 announcement, no pet or human illnesses tied to the affected lot had been confirmed. That is good news, but it should not make the recall feel optional. Food recalls are often about getting in front of harm before case counts start climbing. (foxbusiness.com) ### Is this about all raw pet food? Not exactly. This recall is about one specific lot from one company. But it does underline the standing tradeoff with raw diets — supporters like the ingredient philosophy, but uncooked animal products carry more pathogen risk than cooked food. That does not mean every raw product is unsafe. It does mean contamination controls and safe handling matter a lot more. (fda.gov) ### Bottom line If you have Albright’s frozen chicken dog food in your freezer, check the lot code before you do anything else. This is a one-lot recall, but the health risk is real on both ends of the leash. (fda.gov) (petfoodprocessing.net)