Northwest Naturals recall: 72 cases of raw cat and dog food pulled nationwide

What was recalled

The Northwest Naturals recall covers 72 cases, or 1,956 pounds, of frozen raw pet food in two specific lots:

• Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe (sold as cat food and as a protein topper for dogs), 2 lb bag, 12 bags per case. 53 cases, 1,272 pounds. Lot B-5, best by 01/26/2028, UPC 087316384956.
• Northwest Naturals Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe, 6 lb bag, 6 bags per case. 19 cases, 684 pounds. Lot B-19, best by 01/25/2028, UPC 087316380392.

Only these two lots are named in the company announcement. Other Northwest Naturals products, other sizes of the Chicken Recipe line, and other lot numbers are not part of the recall as posted. If your bag has a different lot or best-by date, it is not covered by the Aug. 28, 2026 notice.

FDA posted the company announcement the same day it was issued. Like most pet food recalls, it is voluntary, meaning the company initiated it rather than being ordered to.

Why it was recalled

The company says the contamination "was identified after product samples were collected and tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)." The Frozen Chicken Recipe tested positive for Salmonella. The Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe tested positive for both Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella.

The notice explains why that matters for both pets and people: "Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating contaminated pet products, and there is risk to people from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with contaminated pet products or any surfaces exposed to contaminated pet products and infected animals."

According to the notice, pets infected with Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting; some pets show only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. It also warns that "infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or people." For people, the notice lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever for Salmonella, and says Listeria monocytogenes can rarely cause illness and death, with pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems at higher risk.

Where it was sold

The company says the recalled products "were distributed to retail stores nationwide." The notice does not name specific retailers, chains or online sellers, and it does not list states. Both products are sold frozen, as their names indicate.

That means the practical check is on your own freezer rather than a store list: look for the two product names above and compare the lot number and best-by date printed on the bag. If you shop at a pet store that carries Northwest Naturals, the store may also have posted the recall notice at the freezer case, but the FDA notice does not describe any retailer notification, so do not rely on one.

Two other pet food recalls were posted by FDA in the same stretch of August 2026: the Fromm dog food recall over possible metal pieces, announced Aug. 21, and the Breeder's Edge and Shelter's Choice kitten milk replacer recall over nutrient deficiencies, announced Aug. 26. Each covers different products and lots, so check them separately.

How to identify the recalled bags

Three markings on the bag tell you whether it is included: the product name, the lot number and the best-by date. The UPC on the bag can confirm the product. All of the details in the table come straight from the company announcement posted by FDA on Aug. 28, 2026.

A bag of Northwest Naturals Chicken Recipe with a lot other than B-5 (for the 2 lb cat food) or B-19 (for the 6 lb dog food) is not part of this recall. The same goes for a bag with a different best-by date. If the lot or date is smudged or missing, the company's recall line, 1-866-637-1872, is the place to ask.

Reported illnesses

The company states: "No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this voluntary recall." That applies to both pets and people as of the Aug. 28, 2026 announcement.

The recall was triggered by FDA sample testing rather than by complaints, which is why there are positive lab results without reported cases. The notice asks owners to watch for signs anyway. If your pet ate the recalled product and shows symptoms such as lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite or abdominal pain, the company says to contact your veterinarian.

For people in the household, the notice says anyone showing Salmonella or Listeria symptoms after handling contaminated pet products should contact their health care provider. It specifically lists confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, along with headache, fever, muscle aches, lethargy, anorexia, nausea and diarrhea, as symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection in people. The notice does not report any confirmed cases of either.

What to do if you have it

The remedy stated in the notice: "Consumers who have purchased the products in these lots should stop feeding them to their pets and return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund." Questions go to Northwest Naturals at 1-866-637-1872, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time, or recallinfo@nw-naturals.net.

The notice also includes safe-handling advice that, in the company's words, applies to all raw pet food, not just the recalled lots: wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact, clean and sanitize anything the product touches, keep raw pet food separate from human food, and store it frozen or refrigerated until use.

1. Check your freezer for Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe 2 lb bags (lot B-5, best by 01/26/2028) or Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe 6 lb bags (lot B-19, best by 01/25/2028).
2. Stop feeding the product to your pet.
3. Return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund, as the company states. Bring your receipt if you have it.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the product, and clean and sanitize bowls, utensils, surfaces and storage areas it touched.
5. Keep raw pet food separate from human food and store it frozen or refrigerated until use, per the notice.
6. Contact your veterinarian if your pet shows symptoms, and your health care provider if a person in the household does.

Who issued the recall

This is a voluntary recall by Northwest Naturals of Portland, Oregon. FDA posted the company announcement on Aug. 28, 2026; the company announcement date and FDA publish date are the same. FDA lists the product type as Animal & Veterinary, Food & Beverages, and the reason as "Potential contamination with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes."

The notice does not list a recall number or an FDA classification (Class I, II or III). Those are typically assigned later in FDA's enforcement reports, which are published separately from company announcements. There is no closing or termination date on the notice, so treat the recall as open.

FDA's standard disclaimer applies: the agency posts company announcements as a public service and "does not endorse either the product or the company." The full notice, including product photos, is linked in the sources below.

How to monitor recalls and why to keep your receipts

Pet food recalls are posted on FDA's recalls and safety alerts page, and you can report a problem with a pet food through FDA's product-problem portal. For other categories, check CPSC's recalls page for consumer products, nhtsa.gov/recalls for vehicles, USDA FSIS for meat and poultry, and FoodSafety.gov for food alerts. Retailer emails and the brand's own site are worth checking too.

Before you return or toss a recalled bag, photograph the lot number, best-by date and UPC, and keep your receipt. That proof of purchase may matter if a company refund, reimbursement or a future claim program becomes available. Owed tracks open class action settlements, not recalls, so use the FDA links above for recall status.

Glossary

Lot number

A code (here B-5 or B-19) that identifies the production batch. Only the two lots named on the notice are recalled.

UPC

The 12-digit bar code number on the bag. The recalled products carry UPCs 087316384956 and 087316380392.

Best-by date

The date printed on the package; the recalled lots carry best-by dates of 01/26/2028 and 01/25/2028.

Listeria monocytogenes

A bacterium that, per the notice, can affect animals eating contaminated food and people who handle it, and that can rarely cause illness and death.

Voluntary recall

A recall the company initiates itself, usually after test results or complaints, rather than one ordered by FDA.

Protein topper

A raw product sold to be added on top of a pet's regular food. The recalled 2 lb Chicken Recipe is sold as cat food and as a protein topper for dogs.

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