PORTLAND, OR — Northwest Naturals has recalled select lots of its frozen raw pet food after federal testing found contamination concerns involving Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The Portland, Oregon, company said the voluntary recall covers about 2,000 pounds of product that were sent to retail stores nationwide.
The recalled items include frozen chicken recipe products for both cats and dogs. Health officials say the bacteria can make pets sick and can also pose a risk to people who handle contaminated food, especially if hands, surfaces or utensils are not washed thoroughly after contact.
Which Northwest Naturals products are included in the recall
The recall affects 53 cases of 2-pound bags of Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe for Cats. The lot number is B-5, and the UPC is 087316384956.
Also included are 19 cases of 6-pound bags of Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe. That product is identified as lot B-19 with UPC 087316380392.
According to the company, those items were distributed to retail stores across the United States. Consumers who have one of the affected bags should check the lot information before feeding it to pets or handling the product further.
FDA testing found salmonella in the cat food and both bacteria in the dog food
The recall began after testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration detected Salmonella in the cat food. The same testing found that the dog food was contaminated with both Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
That discovery prompted Northwest Naturals to pull the affected lots from circulation. The company said the recall is voluntary, meaning it is taking the step before reports of illness tied to the products have been identified.
Federal testing is often used to verify concerns about food safety, and this case involved a product line that is sold raw and frozen. Raw pet food can present special handling concerns because bacteria may survive if the food is not cooked before use.
What salmonella and listeria can mean for pets and people
Authorities warn that both bacteria can create health risks for animals and humans. In people, exposure may cause gastrointestinal illness, fever and other symptoms associated with foodborne infection.
Pets can also become seriously ill after eating contaminated food. The warning is especially important for households with newborns, pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems, since listeria can lead to severe complications in those groups.
Even when an animal does not appear sick, contaminated food can still be dangerous to the people handling it. Washing hands, bowls, counters and any other surfaces that came into contact with the food is an important precaution.
No illnesses reported so far as customers are told to stop using the food
Northwest Naturals said it is not aware of any animal or human illnesses linked to the recalled products at this time. That means the recall is a precautionary step taken after the FDA test results, rather than a response to confirmed cases.
Consumers who bought the affected food are being told to stop using it immediately. The company says unused portions should be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Anyone who has fed the product to a pet and notices signs of illness should contact a veterinarian. People who handled the food and later feel sick should seek medical advice, especially if symptoms include fever, vomiting or diarrhea.
Why frozen raw pet food draws close scrutiny from regulators
The products at issue are frozen raw diets, a category that can attract added attention from food safety officials because the food is not cooked before being sold. That means bacteria may remain present if contamination occurs during processing or packaging.
In this case, the recall covers only the specific lots identified by lot number and UPC. Other Northwest Naturals products are not listed in the notice, though shoppers are being urged to confirm the packaging carefully before using any frozen pet food already at home.
For pet owners, the recall is a reminder that safe handling matters even for animal food. Keeping raw pet diets separated from human food, cleaning contaminated surfaces and checking product codes can reduce the chance of accidental exposure.
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