Albright’s recalls raw dog food

Raw dog food is back in the recall news — and this one is pretty specific. Albright’s Raw Pet Food, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, pulled one lot of its Chicken Recipe for Dogs Complete and Balanced after it was flagged for possible Salmonella contamination. The recall was announced May 6 and posted by the FDA on May 7. For pet owners, the issue is simple: even if a dog looks fine, contaminated raw food can still make animals sick and can also expose people in the household. ### Which product is affected? It’s one lot of Albright’s Chicken Recipe for Dogs Complete and Balanced, sold as frozen 1-pound vacuum-sealed bricks, usually packed in 30-pound cases. The lot code is C001730. That detail matters more than the brand name alone, because the recall is not for every Albright’s product — just that identified lot. (fda.gov) ### Where was it sold? The company said the food was distributed directly to consumers nationwide. It also went to a small number of retailers in Massachusetts, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and New York. So this is broader than a single-store or single-state pull, even though the retail footprint named in the notice is limited. (fda.gov) ### Why is Salmonella such a big deal here? Because raw pet food creates two exposure paths at once. Dogs can get sick from eating it, with symptoms like lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or reduced appetite. But people can get sick too by touching the food, the packaging, contaminated surfaces, or even the pet afterward if hygiene slips. The catch is that some pets show no symptoms at all and can still shed the bacteria. (fda.gov) ### Have any illnesses been reported? So far, no illnesses had been reported when the recall notice went out. That does not mean the risk is imaginary — it usually means the company and regulators moved before confirmed cases stacked up. In recall language, this is the best time to catch a problem: early, narrow, and tied to a specific lot number. (fda.gov) ### What should pet owners do now? Do not feed the product. If it is in a freezer, isolate it so it does not leak onto other food, then dispose of it in a way pets and wildlife cannot access, or return it if the seller is accepting refunds. Wash bowls, scoops, storage bins, counters, and your hands thoroughly after handling anything that touched it. (fda.gov) ### Why does raw food keep showing up in recalls? Basically, raw diets skip the kill step that cooking provides. That means if bacteria get into the supply chain, there is less standing between contamination and the bowl. Plenty of owners choose raw food on purpose, but microbiologically it is a tighter-rope category than cooked pet food — especially in homes with kids, older adults, or anyone immunocompromised. (fda.gov) ### Is this the company’s first Salmonella recall? No. Albright’s had a Salmonella-related dog food recall in 2020 as well, involving its chicken recipe. That does not by itself tell you what happened this time, but it does add context: this is not the first time the brand has dealt with this exact kind of hazard. (fda.gov) ### Bottom line If you have Albright’s raw chicken dog food in the freezer, check for lot C001730 first. This is a one-lot recall, but the health risk reaches beyond pets — straight into the kitchen and anyone handling the food. (fda.gov 1) (fda.gov 2)